Fake soldier arrested in Ogun

A man, Ayodele Adedeji, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command, after months of parading himself as a soldier with the Nigeria Army.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Monday, said police detectives attached to Onipanu Division arrested the suspect, a resident of Iyana Iyesi,Ota on Friday.

He said the suspect had been placed under surveillance before he was finally arrested and upon interrogation, confessed he was using the Army uniform of his late brother to make ends meet.

“The suspect, who had been placed under surveillance by good members of the public in the area, was accosted while the members of the community called the attention of a sergeant in the Nigerian army who resides in that same community to identify him. The sergeant was not satisfied with the suspect’s explanation, hence he was handed over to the police,” Mr. Adejobi said.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to be a fake soldier who had been in the dirty business of impersonation for long. He stated further that his elder brother was in the Army and he died some years back before he picked up all his uniforms and accouterments for use,” the police said.

The police spokesperson further said the items recovered from the suspect included two pairs of complete Nigerian Army uniforms, fake Nigeria Army Identity Card, jungle booth, dummy gun, and accoutrements of the Nigerian Army.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, has directed the deputy commissioner of police, investigation and intelligence, to thoroughly investigate the matter and widen the scope of his investigation to know the antecedents of the suspect in the areas of kidnapping, land speculation, and armed robbery.