Bauchi Governor Suspends ID Card Scheme Over Extortion

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has approved the immediate suspension of the Unified Business ID Card Scheme following allegations of extortion. The announcement was made by Babayo Liman, the governor's Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, on Friday.

The scheme was originally introduced to enhance internal security and improve business identification in Bauchi State. However, investigations revealed fraudulent activities where individuals allegedly produced fake identification cards and extorted traders by collecting N3,000 under false claims of representing the state government's Department of Internal Security.

In light of these findings, the governor has ordered the suspension of the issuance of ID cards pending a full review of the investigation. The oversight of this review will be managed by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs to ensure proper monitoring and accountability.

Liman has urged the public to report any individuals involved in extortion and warned that offenders will face arrest and prosecution.