The Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps has apprehended two people for allegedly forging the signature of Marafan Gobir, the Hakimin of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State. The suspects have been identified as Bashir Bala, a 30-year-old resident of Unguwar Gwazar in Gusau, and Usman Mohammed, also known as Alh. GEDE, a 33-year-old from Lalan Area in Gusau metropolis.
According to Ikor Oche, the spokesman for the Command, the suspects conspired to forge the signature in order to falsely claim ownership of 40 rustled cows in the state. During the investigation, Gede confessed that he had collaborated with Bala to lay a fraudulent claim to the cows from the committee. The forged document, allegedly originating from Marafan Gobir Hakimin of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, was recovered as evidence.
Bashar Bala was detained on March 21, 2024, at the Zakat and Endowment Board, where stolen animals are kept until their rightful owners can retrieve them. When he was captured, a forged document purporting to be from Marafan Gobir Hakimin of the Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State was found to prove his ownership of the cows.
Bala admitted during the preliminary investigation that the document was forged and that Alh. Usman Mohammed, also known as Alh. Gede, a committee member, had given it to him. The investigation is still going on to find out more information about the forgery incident.
