By ISAIAH EKA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Akwa Ibom Directorate has alerted the general public of the circulation of fake N1000 notes within the state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), NOA listed areas worse hit by the nefarious activities to include the coastal areas of Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo and Ibeno Local Government Areas.

The State Director of NOA, Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday.

Mkpoutom said that there had been confirmed intelligence reports of syndicates flooding the coastal areas with fake N1,000 notes.

“There has been confirmed intelligence reports of syndicates flooding the coastal areas of Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo and Ibeno with fake N1000 notes with batch number 364232 and 898248 with blurred portrait, watermarks and irregular security features.

“The syndicates exploit the peak commercial hours of major local markets in the state to carry out transactions with the counterfeit notes and defraud unsuspecting POS operators and other merchants,” Mkpoutom said.

The state director described this heinous crime as unpatriotic and capable of distorting the Nigerian economy.

He appealed to members of the public to be very vigilant and co-operate with security agencies, who are doing their best to bring the culprits to book. (NAN)