The President-General of the Umueri community in Anambra State, Ambassador John Chukwudi Metchie, has alerted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and security agencies of the circulation of fake N200 notes in the area, especially in Otuocha Market.

Chief Metchie, who is the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), also warned commercial motorcycle operators who collude with criminals to perpetrate crime in the area to desist from such acts.

He said that henceforth, local vigilantes would work with police and other security agents to deal with the criminals according to the law.

In a statement at the weekend, Metchie 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 and tricycle (keke) riders.

He said the ugly incident has become rampant in Otuocha Market and other areas of the local government, adding that it has the potency to cause a breach of law and that other victims may take laws into their own hands against perpetrators of the crime.

In the statement titled “Threat to Law and Order Over Use of Fake Naira Notes in the LGA,” Metchie said information available revealed that the fake notes were being printed and used during weddings and burials but that criminals are now using them to buy things from traders and other unsuspecting victims.

He called on the CBN and security agencies to carry out covert operations in the area to fish out the undesirable elements and bring them to book.

Metchie also advised residents of the area to report any person found to be transacting business with fake Naira notes to local vigilantes for immediate apprehension and handover to the police.

Also in a circular on Saturday, which he personally signed, Metchie said there are reports that some tricycle and motorcycle riders are colluding with phone snatchers and other criminals to attack residents of the area, even as he lamented the resurgence of young people sitting idly and smoking all kinds of banned substances, including Indian Help, Codeine, and crack, among others.

He revealed that measures have 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 criminality in the area, warning that any person caught in any of the nefarious activities would be dealt with according to the law.