Navy arrests fake soldier in offa

THE Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, has paraded a suspected fake military officer, Salami Olalekan Wuraola and his accomplice; an alleged serving soldier.

The commandant of the school, Navy Captain Ibrahim Doko Nurudeen, while parading the suspect before journalists on Tuesday in the school’s premises in Offa, said the suspect and his accomplice had been handed over to the Army authority, Sobi, in Ilorin

He said the suspect and his accomplice, whose identity was not revealed, were arrested at the Offa branch, following information from members of the public.

“We got the suspects arrested after a long trail. They went about as newly recruit soldiers seeking financial assistance from the well to do members of the public.

“A wealthy man gave them N20,000 and it was at the point of cashing the money at the bank that they were arrested,” the Commandant said.

Wuraola, while responding to questions posed to him by journalists said the military uniform belonged to his late brother who was a soldier.

“I am from Ondo State and a school leaver and this is the first time of my involvement in criminal activity. I am not a soldier. I have not put on the uniform before. This is the first time I put it on. I did not know the influential person who gave the N20,000. It’s the soldiers that I met that knew the man. I only went along with them. I just sat down somewhere. The soldiers were the ones that went and met the man. I only met the soldier in the town. I did not know him from Adam. I am a driver. I am 28 years old. I have O-Level.

“It’s a big mistake. It was the soldier that took the money. I regret my action. If I escape from this, I will not go back to it again,” he said.

In his own comment, the representative of Offa community, Hon Jare Olatundun, attributed the arrest of the suspects to the existing synergy between the community and the Navy on security.

“We owe the peace being enjoyed by this town to God and Navy. They have been very helpful in keeping security in Offa,” he said.

He also urged young ones to shun criminality and asked parents to mentor their children properly.