By Correspondent in Minna.
Police in Niger state have arrested 24-year-old alleged fake soldier, Emmanuel Dominic of Tunga area, Minna for using his late fathers’ military uniform with service number, 05313 to perpetrate crime and criminality
The Commissioner of Police for Command in the state, Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas, disclosed this in a statement signed by Command’s spokesman,DSP Wasiu A. Abiodun on Monday in Minna.
According to the police boss, Dominic was seen dressed in Nigerian Army camouflage, presented himself to be a soldier and went to secure the release of his friend who was in police custody for alleged criminal offence.
He said upon interrogation, the suspect was discovered to be a fake soldier and subsequently arrested, adding that he later confessed that he had been a ‘barrack boy’ of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army, Minna the state capital.
According to Kuryas,the suspect also claimed that the uniform belonged to his late father,whom he said died as a soldier.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspect during investigations include; One wooden carved gun, Two axes, One jackknife, Two kit bags, Two OG green trousers, one army camouflage vest, shirt, military boot, face cap, and a walking stick.
“Dominic is also suspected to have been engaged in armed robbery operating within Minna, the state capital and its environs with the carved wooden gun, jackknife and the axe, the statement further indicate,” Kuryas said.
The Commissioner of Police also revealed that the command arrested five suspects; Hussaini Adamu 23 years, Mustapha Umar 17 years, Mande Magaji 17 years, Suleiman Zubairu 16 years and 25 years old Salisu Usman, (the alleged receiver) of stolen Transformer components.
“The suspects, all male and residence of Kasuwan-Gwari area, Minna metropolis were arrested at Lapai-Gwari area along building materials market road by the police during routine patrol of the area after conspiring among themselves and vandalised two electric transformers in the area and carted away some of the cables,” he said.
He explained that four of the suspects were arrested at the scene, confessed to the crime and led the police team to their alleged partner in crime, Salisu Usman at Kasuwan-Gwari, Minna who bought the cables from them.
Exhibits recovered from the five suspects include; three insulators and a vandalised electric transformed, according to him, according to the police boss.
The Commissioner said that all the cases were under investigation, adding that l the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after conclusion of investigations.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
