Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have raided and dismantled an illegal fertiliser factory and arrested five suspects in the state.
The police also seized tonnes of adulterated products and manufacturing equipment during the raid.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, adding that the raid followed intelligence reports exposing two illicit production facilities in Magaji Quarters and Gombe Road, Bauchi.
“On 10 May 2025, police acting on a tip-off arrested Muhammad Abubakar, 34, at a market in Magaji Quarters, where he was found with six bags of adulterated fertiliser and 46 bottles of fake herbicides. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered 38 empty herbicide cartons, 14 NPK fertiliser sacks, and materials for mixing counterfeit products, including charcoal stoves and lambda powder,” the statement said.
The statement added that Abubakar confessed during interrogation and implicated an accomplice, Abubakar Umar, 24, who was later arrested.
The police also confirmed that in a separate operation arrested Anas Abubakar, 32, owner of a shop along Gombe Road, after discovering 44.5 bags of adulterated fertiliser.
Anas admitted sourcing raw materials like moulded kaolin from Abdulrahaman Muhammad, 24, who was traced to Bakaro Quarters.
The statement added that further investigation led authorities to Natsira Hamlet near Kangare Village, where Abdulrahaman’s production facility housed over 100 bags of adulterated fertilizer.
Raids on two additional facilities in the area owned by Sama’ila Abdullahi, 34, and Mujahid Abdullahi, 32, yielded more counterfeit products.
SP Wakil affirmed that all suspects would face prosecution once investigations conclude. “The Command is committed to eradicating illegal activities threatening agricultural productivity and public safety,” he stated.
The arrest highlights the challenges in curbing counterfeit agro-products in Nigeria, which undermine farmers’ yields and food security.
This is coming at a time when farmers are preparing to return to the farm as rainy season starts.
