NOTORIOUS bandit leader, Kachalla Baleri, has been seen flashing new Naira notes in a viral video apparently to demonstrate his unrestrained access to cash.
This comes as Nigerians continue to suffer from an acute shortage of cash in circulation since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the redesign of higher denominations of the Naira while withdrawing old notes from the economy.
Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor had cited the need to cut off cash supply to bandits and terrorists who continue to kidnap for huge ransoms as one of the reasons for the currency redesigning.
In the viral video seen on social media Thursday, Baleri flanked on both sides by three of his gang members, armed with AK 47 rifles, was seen in possession of the new Naira notes, deriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime of lying that new Naira notes policy will bar bandits from kidnapping for ransom.
“It is a barefaced lie to claim that the Naira redesign will prevent terrorists, I mean those of us they designated as terrorists from accessing money. But you can see the new notes here with us”, Baleri said.
Showing off the new notes, the bandits’ leader said “as you can see, this one is the N200 new note, this other one is the N500 and this one is the N1,000 new note. We are in the jungle but we have them.”
It could not be immediately ascertained when and where the viral video was recorded. However, the development raises questions on how bandits in the forest have access to the new Naira notes that have been scarce in circulation.