Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have arrested four suspected members of a counterfeiting syndicate linked to the notorious “Sai Mallam” cult group.
The officers also rescued two kidnapped victims following a separate anti-bandit operation in the Binji Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i.
Rufa’i said operatives of the command’s Strike Force Unit carried out an intelligence-led raid on May 19 in the Mana area of Sokoto metropolis, following information provided by a resident.
The police added that the operation targeted a house allegedly owned by one Yusufa Auditor, who is currently at large.
Those arrested were identified as Saifullahi Aminu of the Dallatu Road area; Ahmad Sarkin Aski of the Mana area; Muhammadu Lawali, also known as Gunda, from Dange Shuni LGA, and Usama Muhammad, alias Na’Ukada.
The command noted that exhibits recovered from the suspects included fake CFA currency, counterfeit United States dollars and naira notes, charms, fake gold stones, SIM cards, ATM cards, and a “magic box” allegedly used in producing fake money.
The statement disclosed that the suspects confessed during interrogation to conspiring with another suspect, Yanusa S. Aski, who remains at large, to deceive victims through fake money-doubling schemes.
“The suspects confessed to criminally cheating unsuspecting victims by collecting their money, performing magic tricks and falsely convincing them that they were multiplying currency,” the statement said.
In a separate operation on May 20, police operatives attached to Binji Police Station, in collaboration with personnel of the Army Forward Operating Base, foiled what the command described as a bandit attack on Jareedi village in Binji LGA.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community late at night, firing sporadically before abducting two residents identified as Umar Faruku, 30, and Husa Abdullahi, 52.
The police boss stated that tactical teams engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest and abandon the victims.
“One of the rescued victims sustained a minor injury on his right leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment before being discharged,” the statement added.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, commended the operatives involved in both operations and praised residents for providing useful intelligence to security agencies.
“We now call on all residents of the Caliphate to continue providing timely, actionable information to security agencies. Your eyes and ears are critical to dismantling all forms of crime and criminality in our beloved state,” the police commissioner stated.
He assured residents that the command would continue to intensify efforts against cultism, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities across the state.
Recall that on Tuesday, the Edo State Police Command rescued an abducted woman.
The police said, “On 16th May, 2026, at about 0945hrs, one Chinedu George ‘m’, aged 18 years, reported that he was abducted with his mother, Mrs Vivian George, aged 57 years, by suspected kidnappers while on their way to their farm at Ottah Community, Igbanke, but he managed to escape.”
