Police: How fake soldier was nabbed while trying to release friend from custody

The Niger state police command says it has arrested a suspected fake soldier who attempted to secure the release of his friend in custody.

Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson, said the suspect, identified as Emmanuel Dominic, was arrested in the Tunga area of Minna on October 27.

“The suspect dressed in Nigerian army camouflage went to the police division and paraded himself as a soldier with service no. 05313 attached to TRADOC, Minna, to secure the release of his friend in police custody,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“During interrogation, the suspect was discovered to be a fake soldier and subsequently arrested.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one wooden carved gun, two axes, one jackknife, two kit bags, two green trousers, one army camouflage vest, shirt, boot, face cap, and a walking stick.

“The suspect has been robbing victims in Minna and environs with the wooden carved gun, jackknife and the axe.”

According to the police spokesperson, operatives attached to the Chanchaga division also arrested five suspects for vandalising transformers.

He said the suspected transformer vandals were nabbed on November 7.

He named the suspects as Hussaini Adamu, Mustapha Umar, Mande Magaji, Suleiman Zubairu and Salisu Usman.

Abiodun said four of the suspects were arrested at the scene but Salisu Usman at Kasuwan-Gwari was led by the police to recover the electric cables.