Fake Soldier arrested by Police operatives for alleged kidnapping, robbery

Operatives of the Lagos Police’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have detained a 42-year-old suspected army impersonator, for allegedly abducting and robbing a man of his valuables.

RRS made this known in a post shared on its official X handle @ rrsLagos767 on Wednesday.

It stated that the suspect, a dismissed army sergeant and ex-convict, was apprehended on Saturday at Ikeja Underbridge.

“The suspect was apprehended by police operatives after being spotted by one of his victims around Computer Village, Ikeja, ” it stated.

According to RRS, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect on Dec. 30, 2024 accused his victim of stumbling on him.

“He claimed he lost a gold ring in the process and that his victim must produce the ring for him.

“The suspect thereafter, told his victim that he was an army officer, displaying his identification card.

“It was further alleged that the suspect told his victim that if he could not produce his gold ring, he was going to take him to army barracks in Oshodi,” it stated.

It said that investigations revealed that it was at that point that the suspect invited an accomplice on a motorcycle and hauled his victim on a bike.

“On the pretext that they were taking the victim to Army Cantonment, they drove him to Third Mainland Bridge, collected his iPhone 13 and money, and abandoned him there.

“Further investigations revealed that the suspect sold the iPhone 13 for N150,000 in Computer Village, Ikeja, ” RRS said.

It stated that investigations also revealed that the suspect was arrested in 2024 in Ikeja and imprisoned over a similar crime.

RRS stated that a Nigerian Army cap and a Nigerian Army fake identity card were recovered from him.

According to RRS, the suspect has been transferred to CP’s Special Squad for further investigation. (NAN)

The Gidigba Group, a socio-political interest group, has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Inspector-General of Police to enforce the judgment on local government autonomy in Edo State.

The group made the call in a statement issued by its convener, Solomon Idugboe, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Benin.

This call comes in the wake of the recent suspension of local government chairmen and their vice chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly.

Idugboe stressed that it was essential to allow the democratically elected chairmen to resume their duties.

He warned that any delay in action by the presidency could lead to chaos in the state.

“The elected council chairmen should be allowed to return to duty,” he said.

The convener also emphasised that a viable and autonomous local government system is crucial for grassroots development.

According to him, the actions of the Edo State government are undermining this principle.

“Since then, many Nigerians have intervened, including the Attorney General of the Federation, who recently warned that governors have no right to interfere in local government affairs.

“However, all interventions have fallen on deaf ears, as thugs, allegedly linked to the state governor, have been seen carrying out illegal impeachments.

“Despite the clear statement from the AGF, the government has resisted implementing the ruling, which has sparked tensions,” he added.

With the president’s support, Idugboe stated, the Inspector-General of Police could provide security to enable the council chairmen to return to duty safely.

He said this would restore the rule of law and ensure the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. (NAN)

The Federal Government has urged the Katsina State Government to support its new ‘Operation Save Corridor North-West’.

This is with the view to giving the surrendering bandits an opportunity to surrender their arms and release all the kidnapped victims for peace and stability.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Maj.-Gen. Ebikunle Ademola-Ajose, made the call when he visited Gov. Dikko Radda, on Wednesday in Katsina.

He said that apart from the operational assessment visit to the states under him, the Chief of Defence Staff, also directed him to discuss with the state government based on the recent development.

Ademola-Ajose said, “This is because some bandits are saying that they want to negotiate.

“Candidly speaking, we are not in the business of negotiating this deal.

“But when you are trying to solve this wicked and perennial problem, a programme like this is something you look upon.

“The CDS directed me to inform you that the Federal Government has initiated Operation Save Corridor North-West. It is similar to the one initiated in the North-East.”

The GOC added that the CDS had written to the four states on how they can partner in the programme.

Ademola-Ajose is also the Theater Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, covering Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina States.

According to him, the initiative will give the surrendering bandits an opportunity to surrender their arms, release all the hostages and reintegrate back into the society.

Responding, Radda said that the government had a security meeting and discussed issues related to the peace deal in Batsari Local Government Area.

“The meeting highlighted two things to be done and set up a committee to work on it.

“There should be a stakeholders’ engagement, because we must have the buy-in of the community before we get acceptance in this deal.

“There also must be laid down conditions to be forwarded to them for their acceptability or otherwise,” he said.

According to Radda, without the involvement of the community, it would not be successful, saying, ”this is because it had happened before.

“I have mentioned several times that I may not negotiate with the bandits. I will not beg them to come and negotiate with me.

“But, if they surrender and say they want to negotiate, the state government is willing to listen to them, and provide all the necessary support for their lives and their animals.

“We are willing to do it, but we need to look at all the challenges, and the pros and cons of it

“They are our people, they were born here, including their parents and grandparents, but chose to be criminals.

“If they chose to be good people, we will be willing to accept them,” he declared.(NAN)