The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Zamfara State Command, has intercepted a major syndicate specializing in the production and distribution of adulterated fertilizer.
The Public Relations officer of NSCDC Zamfara Command ASC I Umar Muhammad who paraded the suspect said the operation, which aligns with the national mandate of Commandant General Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi to eradicate fraud and illegalities, led to the arrest of 33-year-old Mustapha Sani on May 9, 2026. Sani was apprehended in the Unguwar Dallatu area of Gusau with a massive haul of 550 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer primed for the market.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed a sophisticated criminal conspiracy designed to defraud local farmers and retailers. The suspect, who claimed ownership of the illicit stock, allegedly conspired with two accomplices currently at large Alhaji Sabo Yusuf and Abdurrahman Ibrahim to unlawfully manufacture the product.
The syndicate further engaged in intellectual property theft and misrepresentation by impersonating the well-known Fertilizer brand, using counterfeit bags and false labeling to deceive the public into purchasing the sub-standard goods.
He noted that the state Commandant Sani Mustapha emphasized that the command remains steadfast in its proactive mission to protect the state’s socio-economic system from activities that undermine agricultural output. By flooding the market with adulterated products, the suspects posed a direct threat to the livelihoods of rural farmers and the broader food security of the region.
The NSCDC has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for such unethical vices, warning that there will be no hiding place for those seeking to profit from economic sabotage.The Corps is currently finalizing a comprehensive investigation into the syndicate’s operations to ensure all parties involved are brought to justice.
Following the completion of these inquiries, the primary suspect will be arraigned before a competent court of law for prosecution. Meanwhile, the NSCDC has intensified its surveillance efforts to track down the fleeing accomplices and dismantle any remaining cells involved in the distribution of counterfeit agricultural inputs across the state.
