The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army said they have arrested 13 suspects for impersonation, printing of fake military identity cards and other offences within Ogun and Lagos States.
The General Officer Commanding(GOC) of the Division, Major-General Enobong Udoh who paraded the suspects at the Division Headquarter in Lagos, said the suspects were arrested while carrying out their nefarious activities.
The GOC who was represented by the Division’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier -General Hamisu Hassan revealed that the Division had arrested 36 suspects for offences bothering on impersonation and other criminal acts from January-April 2018.
He stated that 23 of the suspects had been handed over to the police for further action while the 13 been paraded were recently arrested.
The paraded suspects identified as Abudallai Mubarak, Emmanuel Anthony, Emeka Ibeh, Olasukanmi Olamide, Godwin Emmanuel, Ahmed Yahya, Ale Ayokunle, Robert Danang, Suleiman Abubakar, Ibrahim Isah, Monday Iyaji, Emeka Stephen and Bala Gabriel were all arrested by various ‘Operation Check – Mate ‘ teams in the Division.
It was gathered that the ‘Operation Check – Mate’ was launched by the General Officer Commanding to check the illegal activities of such impostors.
He said, “The suspects were arrested by the Operation Check – Mate teams of 81 Division operating clandestinely, while they were carrying out their nefarious activities dressed in different types of Nigeria military uniforms, accessories and other accoutrements.
“Also arrested were criminals who aided and abetted these impostors by making and supplying them with fake military ID cards and the military accoutrements donned by them to perpetrate their nefarious activities.
” Some long deserters as well as dismissed personnel of the Services of Armed Forces who impersonated Service personnel of various rank categories are also among those arrested and paraded by the Division.”
He further revealed that the frequency of occurrence as this which was indeed very high about two months ago was now on the decrease since the inception of the Operation Check-Mate.
According to Udoh, “It could be recalled that these criminal impostors are constantly perpetrating criminal activities such as extortion, molestation of innocent citizens, intervening in private disputes between aggrieved parties for pecuniary gains, settlement of land disputes amongst others.
” These tend to portray the Nigeria Army in particular and the Nigerian Armed Forces in general to the public in bad light as they commit such criminal and illegal activities in military uniform thus giving the false impression of being bona-fide military personnel to their victims and other unsuspecting law – abiding citizens.”
Giving a detailed breakdown of how some of the suspects were arrested, the GOC said, “Abdullahi Mubarak was arrested for impersonation, he was fully dressed in military camouflage uniform with redberet and MP hand band in Ojo area. He had a fake military ID card in his possession.
” Also, Emmanuel Anthony a dismissed soldier residing at No 24 Iyana Cele, Ojo. Emmanuel is the ring leader of the fake ID card producing syndicate. He has also in various occasions impersonated as a Lieutenant, Captain and any other rank that suite his illegal activities.
” Ibeh Gabriel Emeka who resides at No 25 Isoko Street, Ojo was arrested at Alaba International Market. He is a member of Emmanuel Anthony syndicate producing fake military ID cards. They have also worked together as impostors dressed in military uniforms.
” Similarly, Olasunkanmi Olamide from Adeoyo in Ibadan was arrested on 18 March 2018 in Shagamu for impersonation dressed in military uniform.”
On his part, Anthony said he ran from the North-East in 2014 for fear of been killed while fighting insurgency.
The Lance Corporal said he was given a pass and travelled to see his family but never returned. Instead he had started a syndicate that specialises in producing fake military Identity cards and selling of military recruitment forms.
The Akwa-Ibom state indigene however chose to parade himself as a Lieutenant. He made picture frames, bought uniform carrying the fake rank.
The 28 year old said, ” I ran away from the Army because I was scared. I came to Lagos where I started parading myself as an Army Lieutenant escorting vehicles, crossing second hand vehicles from Cotonu for smugglers to make a living.
” I was paid between N3000 and N5000 per trip. I really do regret my actions now that I have been caught. “
Emeka Stephen who runs a business centre in Alaba International was also part of the syndicate as he designs and prints the fake Identity cards for interested individuals for N1,000.
He however denied the allegation saying, ” I was bullied into printing the identity card just once by one Emeka an his friend. They brought the sample, I scanned, edited and printed it. I was paid N1,000.”
Items recovered from the suspects includes laptops, desktop computers, printers, picture frames of them fully kitted in military apparel, flash drives, fake Army recruitment forms among others.
The GOC said the suspect will be handed over to the police for more investigations and prosecution in a competent court of law.
He therefore enjoined members of the public, depending on their locations, to always reach out and call the numbers below when in doubt or see persons in uniform engaged in any form of illegality.
07069353889—Ojo,
08060492529—Ojo,
07017064979—Badagry
08034347484—Victoria Island
08065992320—Ikeja
08069097624—Owode
08065806870—Ikorodu
07064281177—Obalende
08053862233—Abeokuta
08057705135—Abeokuta
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