Nigerian Army Arrest Impostors

LUCKY LAWAL

The special team of Operation Checkmate of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army paraded 12 impostors arrested in Lagos and Ogun State while perpetrating various acts of illegality dressed in military uniforms.

The impostors, who were paraded at 174 Battalion,Odongunyan,Ikorodu, Lagos State on Thursday 17^th of May 2018.

They were arrested at different locations in Lagos and Ogun State. They owned up to their offences and confessed to have been using army uniforms to have their way in the states.

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Enobong Okon Udoh while addressing stakeholders and journalists said, “All military personnel were asked to stay in their barracks; no genuine military personnel will one see doing any illegal assignment since they’ve been confined to their different barracks and can only operate during official duties.

He further explained that these impostors wear army uniforms to perpetrate crimes and criminality in the society soiling the name of the force.

Speaking to P.M.EXPRESS, one of the suspected impostors, a 40-year old Corporal Ahmed Ahmed who was arrested at Maryland said that he was a dismissed soldier. He said, “I am a dismissed soldier. I was dismissed from the School of Army Bauchi in 2015 for a case of mutiny. I was arrested for wearing the cap”.

Ahmed confessed to have worn the army cap to avoid paying transportation fares since he was going to Badagry. Another suspect, a civilian, 33-year old security guard at Grammar School, Ikorodu, Danjuma Lapo from Kebbi State, was arrested at LASTMA office and taken to the army barracks in Odongunyan for clarification.

Speaking with our correspondent, Danjuma said that he got the army uniform from one Mohammed when he was working as a grass cutter in Abattoir barracks at Ojuelegba because the uniform was old. According to him, he wore the uniform to get his brother’s bike released from LASTMA office. But unfortunately for him, after the bike was released to him, at the gate he was asked to pay N500 gate fee before he could take the bike out which he did not have. This resulted into a disagreement between him and the LASTMA official. He was then taken to the army for identification. Danjuma who could not identify himself as Nigerian Army personnel was arrested and taken to the barracks.

Another suspect, a 38-year old woman, Grace Ayeni from Edo was arrested in a bus on her way to Ojo. According to her, she did not have transport fare to Ojo and she decided to wear the army cap given to her by her boyfriend. She could not explain herself when accosted and she was arrested.

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Enobong Okon Udoh, appreciated the good people of Lagos and Ogun State for their continued cooperation and urged them to always give timely information. He pledged not to relent until the areas are rid of all forms of cultism, vandalism and impostors.

He rolled out numbers for the public to call in case of emergency and when the need arises:  07069353889—OJO 08060492529—OJO 07017064979—BADAGRY 08034347484—VICTORIA ISLAND 08065992320—IKEJA 08069097625—OWODE 08065806870—IKORODU 07064281177—OBALENDE 08053862334—ABEOKUTA 08057705145–ABEOKUTA.