A 28-year-old driver, Mr. Salami Wuraola, has been arrested by the officials of the Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State, for allegedly parading himself as an officer of the Nigerian Army.
The Commandant, NNSHS, Offa, Capt. Ibrahim Nurudeen, while handing over the suspect on Tuesday to the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara, said he was arrested along with an accomplice who claimed to be a serving soldier.
He explained that upon interrogation, the accomplice presented an identification card belonging to the Nigerian Army.
The commandant told PUNCH Metro that the culprits belonged to a syndicate, which specialised in swindling influential people in the Offa community on the pretext that they were new recruits of the Nigerian Army and needed assistance.
Nurudeen said, “We had received information from the community that some people were parading themselves as military officials. We had been on the trail of the hoodlums since we got that report. And finally, we got the two suspects arrested.
“What they do is to go to influential people in the town and present themselves as recruits of the Nigerian Army and solicit assistance. That was what the two men did. They went to an influential person who gave them a cheque of N20,000. At the point of cashing the cheque at the bank, we were alerted and we got them arrested.”
The commandant said the accomplice, who claimed to be a soldier, would be further investigated by the Nigerian Army to authenticate his claim.
He added that the accomplice was not paraded before journalists because he showed an ID card and a pass of the Nigerian Army.
He explained that if after investigation the accomplice was found to be a member of the Nigerian Army, he would be punished accordingly.
Wuraola, who claimed to be a secondary school leaver, said he regretted his action.
He said the army uniform he wore on the day of the incident belonged to his late brother, adding that he saw the uniform while cleaning his late brother’s apartment.
He said, “I am not a soldier and I had not put on the uniform before then. I cannot even say this was what led me into this act. I now realise that I have made a big mistake and I regret my action. If I am out of this calamity I brought on myself and my family, I will not indulge in this act again. I advise youths to stay away from impersonation.
“I did not know the man who gave us the N20,000 cheque. My soldier friend knew the man. I only went along with them and sat somewhere. The soldier was the one that collected the cheque.”
A representative of the Offa community security outfit, Mr. Jare Olatundun, said although there was economic hardship in the country, it was not enough reason for anyone to indulge in crime.
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