The Akwa Ibom Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned the public about the presence of counterfeit N1000 notes circulating in the state.
In a statement issued, the state director of NOA, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, identified the most affected areas as the coastal regions of Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, and Ibeno Local Government Areas.
Mkpoutom revealed that verified intelligence reports confirmed syndicates were inundating these coastal areas with fake N1000 notes. The statement partially reads:
“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.
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”
The state director labeled this egregious crime as unpatriotic and likely to disrupt Nigeria’s economy, urging the public to remain vigilant and work with security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli