We love military, police jobs, suspected fake soldier, police say

An armed robbery suspect, Okemiri (surname withheld) who allegedly dressed in military uniform has confessed to the police in Abia State has confessed that he dressed in the uniform because of the love he has for the military profession.

Same goes for another suspect, Chijioke (other name withheld), who claimed to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Crime Section of Area “M’ Lagos State Police Command, as he said it had always been his dream to become a police officer.

Parading the two suspects alongside eight other suspects at police command headquarters Umuahia last Tuesday,  the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade gave other suspects’ names as David, Ugochukwu, John, Ogbonna, Okechukwu, Nwogu, Onyemachi and Chidi (surnames withheld).

According to the police boss, the suspects were arrested in connection with offences ranging from armed robbery to impersonation, cultism and murder.

He said that the arrest of David by Dragon Rapid Response Squad in Aba on November 27, 2016 was sequel to a tip-off, adding that a black Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number Abuja RSH 810 PU was recovered.

Oyebade added that Okemiri was apprehended on November 26 by police operatives attached to Central Police Station Aba while dressed in military uniform.

Oyebade further explained the implementation of intelligence-led policing policy of the force by officers and men of the police in Aba Central Station led to the arrest of Chijioke who claimed to be a police officer.

Furthermore, he said that four students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) were arrested for alleged cultism, giving their names as John, Ogbonna, Okechukwu and Nwogu.   The police boss said that the suspects confessed to being members of Viking Confraternity.

He also disclosed the arrest of a suspected murderer Chidi (surname withheld) whom he said was allegedly among the hoodlums that killed two staff of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area and set chairman’s office on fire during recent local government’s PDP primaries in the state.

Items recovered from the suspects include military uniform, sweater, head warmer, face towel and two wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

Others were police warrant ID card, two pieces of 10,000 CFA notes, five U.S dollar, SIM cards, phones and wrist watches as well two locally-made single barrel short guns, two live cartridges and two expanded cartridges among others dangerous.