A joint border security patrol has arrested two men, Aliyu Abubakar and Maude Abubakar, attempting to cross into the Niger Republic at the Kebbi state border with 42.9 million West African CFA franc in their possessions.
Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, Coordinator, Border Drill Operations Sector 4, disclosed this on Friday in Katsina while briefing newsmen on the activities of the operatives.
Border Drill Operations Sectors consists of security agents from the customs, immigration, police, army and a representative from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) working at the country’s borders.
Mohammad said that the two men were apprehended at Kamba, a border town in Kebbi State.
The coordinator of the joint security patrol said that the first suspect was arrested with 32 million CFA franc in his possession, while the other was with 10.9 million CFA franc.
He said that the two suspects had no valid travel document for their trip to the Niger Republic.
“Normally, if you have a huge amount of money and you want to go out of the country, there is a regulation.
“First of all, you must have a valid document for travelling, secondly, you have to declare your currencies at the customs desk.
“Not more than $10,000 or equivalent is allowed to go out, however, these people were crossing illegally without document and with this large amount of money,” he said.
The coordinator also said that the operatives apprehended one Sani Abdullahi from Kaduna State, who attempted to bribe officers with N2.5 million.
Mohammad explained that the operatives arrested two Peugeot J5 vehicles belonging to Abdullahi, loaded with bales of second-hand clothes in Sokoto state.
“He has the courage to come and approach us with a bribe, instead of him to run away, he came for negotiations.
“So, to show the world that we are out to work. We are working for the nation, we are not here for the money
“He entered negotiations with us, with a promise that he will give N2.5 million bribe, but he could only offer N1.5 million cash.
“We arrested him together with the N1.5 million bribe, the money is an exhibit,” he said.
Mohammed further revealed that the joint security patrol made over 10 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N473.4 million within the Katsina State sector 4, in two weeks,
He said the border drill operations sector 4 comprises of Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.