The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army Military Police Personnel have arrested over 12 impostors of the Army in full military uniform
The spokesperson of the division, Olaniyi Osoba, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
‘The 81 Division Nigerian Army Military Police Personnel have arrested 12 suspected imposters fully kitted in military camouflage uniforms portraying the Nigerian Army in a bad light during Operation Checkmate within Lagosand Lagos and the Ogun States,’’ the statement said.
According to Mr Osoba, Major General, the impostors specialize in mounting roadblocks around the Ajah area of Lagos and extorting unsuspecting citizens.
Osoba said, ‘’Operation Checkmate has been launched to track impostors and so far, over 150 have been arrested.
He warned the general public against using Army regalia and insignias such as belts, T-shirts, Stickers and painting vehicles in military colour, as such will lead to arrest.
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81 DIVISION NIGERIAN ARMY OPERATION CHECKMATE ARREST IMPOSTORS IN LAGOS AND OGUN STATES
The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army Military Police Personnel has arrested over 12 suspected impostors fully dressed in military camouflage uniforms portraying the Nigerian Army in a bad light during OPERATION CHECKMATE within Lagos and Ogun States.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army(NA) Major General Umar Thama Musa in a press briefing dispelled the unfounded narrative that all illicit acts committed by persons dressed in military uniforms are always military personnel.
He noted that people displaying military banners and accoutrement such as belts and stickers on vehicles and driving commercial vehicles in military uniforms as well as driving civil vehicles painted in Army colour are most often not personnel of the Nigerian Army. He said, in an effort to curtail this ugly trend, the division has heightened the activities of OPERATION CHECKMATE to ensure the regular arrest of impostors and offenders within the Division area of responsibility.
The GOC disclosed that over 150 impostors have been arrested from January last year to date.
Major General Musa during the parade of the suspected impostors explain that preliminary investigations revealed that some of the suspects specialized in mounting roadblocks along Ajah road to extort money from motorists as well as indulge in other illegal duties while dressed in Nigerian Army Camouflage uniform.
Similarly, the GOC said, some arrested fully dressed in military uniform were caught along the Ilaro Border area of Ogun State where they carry out smuggling of rice, and other contrabands.
The GOC said the arrested impostors would be handed over to the Nigerian Police for further action.
He, therefore, urged members of the public to desist from wearing military uniforms and T-shirts, display of military Banners, Belts, and Stickers on vehicles as well as during civil vehicles painted in Army Colour.
He further implored members of the public to continue to support the Division’s OPERATION CHECKMATE by providing information to the nearest Nigerian Army Formations or Units as part of efforts to rid Lagos and Ogun States of criminal elements who are bent on tarnishing the highly revered image of the NA.
The GOC thanked members of the Press for their efforts in objective reportage of activities of the NA.
OLANIYI JOSEPH OSOBA
Major
Acting Deputy Director
81 Division Army Public Relations
13 April 2022