Kebbi police arrest fake officer, accomplice in ₦7.5m mercury smuggling case By Jamil Gulma, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi police arrest fake officer, accomplice in ₦7.5m mercury smuggling case
By Jamil Gulma, Birnin Kebbi
Police operatives attached to Dandi Local Government Division in Kebbi State have arrested one Yusuf M. Alhaji of Kano State, who claimed to be a special constabulary officer with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police, attached to Rijiyar Zaki Divisional Police Headquarters, Kano State Command.
He was apprehended along the Nigeria/Benin Republic border in Dandi LGA of Kebbi State.
A thorough search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of three metal jars of silver liquid mercury, each weighing 34.5kg.
The consignment has a total market value of 2,800,000 CFA (equivalent to ₦7.5 million), and is reasonably suspected to have been illegally imported into Nigeria without valid licence or registration.
Investigations carried out at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Birnin Kebbi, revealed that the mercury was smuggled from Lomé, Togo, through the Malleville border.
The trip was allegedly sponsored by one Tijjani Muhammed, 42, of the same address, who has also been arrested and identified as the owner of the contraband.
Police say further investigation is ongoing to uncover the suspects’ modus operandi and track down their accomplices for diligent prosecution.
Meanwhile, the claim of Yusuf being a special constabulary officer is already under scrutiny, as he has only one eye—raising serious doubts about the authenticity of his alleged recruitment into the Kano State Police Command.
Commending the breakthrough, Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M. Sani, praised the DPO, Dolekaina, and his team for their commitment and gallantry in safeguarding lives and property across border communities.
He urged members of the public to continue supporting the Police and other security agencies with credible intelligence to help curb the infiltration of criminals into the country.
The CP further reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify efforts against crime, stressing that Kebbi State will not be allowed to become a safe haven for criminal elements.
