Five suspects were arrested, and various production machinery and adulterated fertiliser products were recovered when the operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command successfully dismantled an illicit fertiliser production operation in the state on May 10.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmed Wakil.

Wakil explained that “On 10 May 2025 operatives of the command’s Monitoring Unit acted promptly based on intelligence received from a reliable source accusing one Muhammad Abubakar of producing adulterated herbicides at his residence in the Magaji Quarters of Bauchi.

“The suspect was traced down and captured in the market while possessing six bags of suspected adulterated fertiliser and 46 bottles of adulterated herbicides.”

The PPRO revealed that a subsequent search warrant executed at his residence yielded several incriminating items, including, “Thirty-eight empty cartons of assorted herbicides;  14 NPK sacks; nine Indorama sacks; one empty jerrycan; five spoons; charcoal stoves; a bundle of nylon; sacks containing Ztars and lambda powder.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the charges and implicated Abubakar Umar, a resident of the same vicinity, as an accomplice.”

The statement revealed that in a related incident, “On May 14, 2025, the command received information from a concerned citizen regarding the illegal production and sale of adulterated fertiliser at a shop owned by Anas Abubakar, aged 32, situated along Gombe Road.

“Upon receiving this intelligence, a team of operatives was promptly dispatched to the scene, leading to the arrest of Anas Abubakar, who was found in possession of 44 and a half-bag of adulterated fertiliser.

“During his interrogation, Anas Abubakar admitted to purchasing the illicit products from Abdulrahaman Muhammad, aged 24, of Bakaro Quarters, Bauchi.

“Although he denied selling the adulterated fertiliser, he acknowledged supplying raw materials, such as moulded kaolin used in the adulteration process.”

Wakil further stated that the suspect noted obtaining the materials from Ziya’u Bala, aged 27, of the Gudum Hausawa area in Bauchi.

“Ziya’u was subsequently traced and arrested; he cooperated with detectives, leading them to Natsira Hamlet via Kangare Village, where his illicit production facility was discovered.

“This facility housed approximately one hundred bags and additional heaps of the adulterated product.

“Anas later confessed to utilising adulterated materials sourced from Abdulrahaman, which he blended with Urea fertiliser to produce the adulterated fertiliser.”

The PPRO said the operation which followed resulted in the recovery of “Forty-four bags and heaps of adulterated fertiliser, 100 bags of moulded kaolin, 12 bags of fertiliser, and one bag of urea fertiliser

“Further investigations revealed two additional illicit production facilities owned by Sama’ila Abdullahi, aged 34, of Natsira Hamlet, and Mujahid Abdullahi, aged 32, of Kangere Village, both of whom were also arrested.

“They confessed to selling their illicit goods to Abdulrahaman, who in turn supplied Anas.

“Despite the challenges, the three illicit facilities were dismantled, and all associated machinery was recovered as exhibits.”

Wakil assured the public that the command was committed to ensuring that justice was served to the suspect.

He stated that upon the completion of the investigation, the relevant charges would be brought before the courts.