As the deadline for collection of old notes approaches, terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) on Saturday distributed large amount of old notes in their possession.
It was gathered that the incident happened along the Maiduguri/Monguno highway, shortly after Mairari village in
Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on November 23, 2022, unveiled redesigned N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
The Apex bank had declared January 31, 2023 as deadline for the use of the old notes as legal tender in the country but later extended it by 10 days.
Following the development, Some ISWAP members who reportedly drove two gun trucks and dressed in military camouflage on Saturday distributed huge amounts of the old notes to scores of commuters.
According to a resident of the area, Bakura Ibrahim, insurgents stood under a tree by the roadside with bags of old naira notes.
“We left Monguno at about 12 noon. As we approached Mairari, there were no existing checkpoints in the area; we were apprehensive.
“They stopped us and asked if we were going to Maiduguri, then they started giving each person 100,000 old naira notes, but we could not believe it. They gave each occupant of the Golf Volkswagen,” Bakura said.
Another source added, “The group simply told us, “If you think you can go to their banks and change it to new naira, go and do so; may Allah make it beneficial to you.”
Truth Live News reports that CBN insisted that the decision to redesign the naira notes was necessary to curb insecurity and also stop vote buying.