…SAYS PERSONS DISPLAYING MILITARY BANNERS, BELTS, STICKERS ON VEHICLES MOST OFTEN IMPERSONATING
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said over 150 military impostors have been arrested from January last year to April, 2022.
The Army explained that persons who display military accoutrements such as banners, belts, stickers and other items are most often not military personnel.
The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, NA, Major General, Umar Thama Musa, made the disclosure addressing journalists on Wednesday.
He described as “an unfounded” narrative that all illicit acts committed by persons dressed in military uniforms are always by military personnel.
Musa while parading over 12 new suspected impostors, arrested in Lagos and Ogun States, by the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army Military Police Personnel, said the suspects were apprehended during “Operation Checkmate” carried out by the Army within Lagos and Ogun States.
The GOC, said the suspects were fully dressed in military camouflage uniforms, which he described as portraying the Nigerian Army in bad light.
According to the GOC, preliminary investigation showed that some of the suspects specialises in mounting road blocks along Ajah road to extort money from motorists, as well as indulge in other illegal duties while dressed in Nigerian Army camouflage uniform.
The Acting Deputy Director, 81 Division, Army Public Relations, Major, Olaniyi Joseph Osoba, quoted the GOC as made the comments in a statement on Wednesday.
He said, “Persons displaying military banners and accoutrement such as belts and stickers on vehicles and driving commercial vehicle in military uniform as well as driving civil vehicle painted in Army colour are most often not personnel of the Nigerian Army.”
He said in an effort to curtail the ugly trend, the Division has heightened the activities of “Operation Checkmate” to ensure regular arrest of impostors and offenders within the Divisional areas of responsibility.
Also, the GOC disclosed that some of the impostors dressed in military uniform were arrested along the Ilaro- Border area of Ogun State where they were carrying out smuggling of rice and other contrabands.
According to the GOC, the arrested impostors would be handed over the Nigerian Police for further action.
He urged members of the public to desist from wearing military uniform and T- Shirts or display of military banners, belts and stickers on vehicles as well as driving of civil vehicles painted in Army colours.
He appealed to the members of the public to continue to support the Division’s Operation Checkmate by providing information to the nearest Nigerian Army Formations or Units as part of efforts to rid Lagos and Ogun States of criminal elements, who he said are bent on tarnishing the highly revered image of the Nigerian Army
The GOC, however, appreciated the media for their partnership and efforts in objective reportage of activities of the Nigerian Army
