The Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State has arrested a 28-year-old driver, Salami Wuraola for allegedly parading himself as an officer of the Nigerian Army.

The Commandant, NNSHS, Offa, Capt. Ibrahim Nurudeen, handed over the suspect to the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara, on Tuesday.

Nurudeen said the suspect was arrested alongside an accomplice who claimed to be a serving soldier and presented an identification card as proof.

Nurudeen said the suspects approach influential people claiming to be recruits in the army and begging for money.

Nurudeen said, “We had received information from the community that some people were parading themselves as military officials. We had been on the trail of the hoodlums since we got that report. And finally, we got the two suspects arrested.

“What they do is to go to influential people in the town and present themselves as recruits of the Nigerian Army and solicit assistance. That was what the two men did. They went to an influential person who gave them a cheque of N20,000. At the point of cashing the cheque at the bank, we were alerted and we got them arrested.”

According to Nurudeen, the accomplice was not paraded because he tendered an army ID card, stating that he will be further investigated by the army.

Wuraola said the army uniform he wore on the day of the incident belonged to his late brother, adding that he saw the uniform while cleaning his late brother’s apartment.

He said, “I am not a soldier and I had not put on the uniform before then. I cannot even say this was what led me into this act. I now realise that I have made a big mistake and I regret my action. If I am out of this calamity I brought on myself and my family, I will not indulge in this act again. I advise youths to stay away from impersonation.

“I did not know the man who gave us the N20,000 cheque. My soldier friend knew the man. I only went along with them and sat somewhere. The soldier was the one that collected the cheque.”