The President-General of Umueri community in Anambra State, John Metchie, has alerted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and security agencies to the circulation of fake N200 notes in the area, especially Otuocha Market.
In a statement over the weekend, he said intelligence reports indicated that some unscrupulous elements were making use of fake N200 notes to defraud unsuspecting members of the public at night, especially market women and commercial motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (keke) riders.
He said the incident happened at Otuocha Market and other areas of the Local Government, adding that such development was capable of causing breach of law and order as victims may take laws into their hands against perpetrators of the crime.
“Information available revealed that the fake notes were being printed and used during weddings and burials but criminals are now using them to buy things from traders and other unsuspecting victims,” Metchie said.
He urged CBN and security agencies to carry out covert operations in the area, to bring the perpetrators to book, while advising residents to report any person found to be transacting business with fake Naira notes to local vigilante for immediate apprehension and handover to the Police.
Metchie, who also is the prime minister, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), warned commercial motorcycle operators not to collude with criminals to perpetrate crime, saying that local vigilante are working with the Police and other security agents to keep the communities safe.
He also said that measures had been put in place by the leadership of the Umueri General Assembly, working with the Police and other security agencies to control all forms of criminalities in the area, including consumption of banned drugs, warning that any person caught in any nefarious activity would be made to face the law.
