One of the persons arrested .
Ovedhe Hezekiah – Warri
Nigerian Army, 63 Brigade Asaba, have arrested three persons impersonating Nigerian soldiers in Asaba, the Delta State capital and Uvwie Local Government Area, near the Oil city of Warri.
One of the fake soldiers arrested identified as Mr Green Ogonna, 25, during a routine patrol under Operation CHECKMATE.
The suspect, who hails from Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was arrested in his residence at Koka junction in Asaba, Delta State following intelligence report.
During a search, troops found military wears and boots with fake pictures of the suspect parading himself as a Military Officer hung on the wall of his apartment.
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The suspect is presently in the custody of the Brigade Military Police for interrogation, after which he would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Also arrested on routine patrol along NPA expressway in Uvwie Local Government Area, is Mrs Joyce Sulieman, 43, who was dressed in complete military camouflage when she was arrested.
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According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 63 Brigade headquarters, Asaba, Captain George Okupe, made available to newsmen in the Asaba on June 1, 2020. The suspect claimed to be a soldier and used that to extort money from locals and also acted as escort to vehicles carrying substances suspected to be Indian Hemp and scraps to different destinations.
The statement said during preliminary investigation, a picture of her in possession of an Ak47 rifle was seen in her mobile phone, even after she had once been arrested and handed over to the police for similar act in July 2018.
The suspect, the statement added, would be handed over to the police for the second time for prosecution after interrogation.
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The troops also arrested one Mohammad Abdul, 40, who was once arrested on Anwai road in Asaba for impersonation and handed over to the police for prosecution on April 14, 2020, has been rearrested by the troops on Operation CHECKMATE during routine patrol for the same offence.
The suspect was caught at a road block extorting money from unsuspecting motorists along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway.
Items recovered from him included a fake military identity card, one jack knife and a brown purse containing a substance suspected to be Indian hemp.
