The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Akwa Ibom State Directorate, has raised alarm over the widespread circulation of counterfeit N1000 notes in markets across the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the NOA identified coastal local government areas including Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, and Ibeno as the worst affected by the fraudulent activity.
In a statement released on Friday in Uyo, the State Director of the agency, Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, disclosed that intelligence reports had confirmed the influx of fake N1000 notes in these regions.
“There have been confirmed intelligence reports of syndicates flooding the coastal areas of Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo and Ibeno with fake N1000 notes with batch numbers 364232 and 898248 with blurred portraits, watermarks and irregular security features,” Mkpoutom said.
He explained that the perpetrators primarily target bustling market hours to dupe Point-of-Sale (POS) operators and unsuspecting traders using the counterfeit notes.
“The syndicates exploit the peak commercial hours of major local markets in the state to carry out transactions with the counterfeit notes and defraud unsuspecting POS operators and other merchants,” he added.
Describing the criminal act as unpatriotic and detrimental to the nation’s economy, the NOA director called for vigilance among the public.
“This heinous crime is unpatriotic and capable of distorting the Nigerian economy,” he warned.
He urged residents to collaborate with security agencies to track down and apprehend the culprits behind the operation.
