Police nab five suspects for fake transfer fraud, arrest two over child rape

A five-man syndicate linked to fake bank transfers and suspected counterfeit foreign currencies has been busted in a major operation by operatives of the Yobe State Police Command.

This was disclosed on Sunday in a press release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim.

According to the statement, operatives of the Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters, on July 18, 2026, acted on a distress report from a victim who alleged that earlier that day, five men defrauded him of 10 bags of fertiliser valued at N488,000 through a fake bank transfer alert.

It said the suspects were identified as Mohammad Ibrahim of Don Etiebet Estate, Damaturu; Abdullahi Aliyu of Kofar Ruwa, Kano State; Muhammad Mukhtar of Commissioners’ Quarters, Damaturu; Mohammad Bashir; and Alhaji Ahmad Mohammad, both of Obasanjo Estate, Damaturu.

“The suspects were arrested before they could dispose of the goods. A search warrant executed in their hotel room in Damaturu led to the recovery of 10 suspected counterfeit US $100 notes, 56 pieces of 50,000 Somali Shilling notes also suspected to be fake, one calabash, a black-and-white cloth, bottles of perfume, and various suspected charms and ritual items”, the statement said.

The command added that an investigation was ongoing to determine the source of the fake currencies and whether the syndicate was involved in their production and circulation, as the suspects were currently assisting the police with information.

In separate incidents, the police command also said its operatives had arrested two men over the alleged rape of minors.

“On 18th July, 2026 at about 2 pm, operatives of Garin Alkali Division in Bursari LGA arrested Habu Haruna, 24, of Rainikunu Garu Dole Village for allegedly luring and raping a seven-year-old girl in a nearby bush.

“The victim was rushed to a medical facility for treatment and psychosocial support.

“Similarly, on 19th July, 2026 at about 4 pm, detectives at Bara Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Mohammed Yau, 65, of Kojole Village for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl inside an uncompleted building.

“Both the victim and suspect have been taken to hospital for forensic and clinical examination”, the command said.

In the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Yobe State Command, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, condemned the rape incidents, describing them as “cruel, inhumane and unacceptable.”

He directed that investigations be concluded without delay and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

Police nab five suspects for fake transfer fraud, arrest two over child rape