Operatives of 81 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested seven persons for allegedly parading themselves as military officers and perpetrating criminal activities during the lockdown in Lagos State.
They were arrested on Tuesday and paraded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj. Gen. Olubunmi Irefin.
Irefin gave the names of the suspects as: Moses Johnson, Anamati Imeh, Ogbunamado Azubuike, Ayuba Poshiga, Charles David, Abdulrasaki Isah and Raymond Okpobrisi.
According to Irefin the suspects were arrested when the division embarked on “Operation Checkmate”, to check the activities of erring personnel, imposters and enforce discipline during the lockdown.
“For the past two weeks, precisely in support of the lockdown order by the Federal Government of Nigeria, 81 Division embarked on Operation Checkmate at various locations within Lagos State.
“Operation Checkmate is a routine activity in 81 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) to checkmate erring personnel, impostors and enforce discipline.
“During one of the operations carried out at Victoria Island, Obalende and Ojo environs, some criminals were arrested impersonating as military personnel.
“Some of them were conveying passengers on motorcycles and vehicles during the lockdown, using military uniform. These are pure civilians using military uniform to commit crime.
“Some were using the military accoutrements for illegal duties, painting the military in bad image. We will continue this operation until we restore normalcy to the society,” the GOC said.
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He sounded a note of warning that the army would henceforth arrest anyone who uses military stickers or any military accoutrement to perpetrate any illegal act.
Irefin also explained that the Operation Checkmate was not targeted at miscreants, but at military personnel who personnel too, who are misbehaving.
“The operation is also not necessarily for miscreants but for our personnel too, who are misbehaving and carrying passengers. Nobody is permitted to use military stickers on their cars at any point in time.
“We the military don’t use the stickers again, so anyone using military sticker, accoutrements, will be arrested and where necessary handed over to the police.
“Consequently, members of the Nigerian public are enjoined to be aware of such imposters who hide in military outfit to commit crimes.
“We also wish to inform the general public that most of those who posed in military outfits and carrying passengers on motorcycles are not soldiers or members of the Armed Forces.
“The public are hereby advised to report any suspected person in military outlook,” he said.
Speaking to journalists, one of the suspects, Johnson, said he bought the military uniform used to perpetuate the crime for N20,000.
