The suspect, Aliyu Umar

The police said the suspect was arrested for unlawful possession of military accoutrements, impersonation and belonging to a gang of brigands.

A 25-year-old man identified as Aliyu Umar has been arrested by men of the Niger State Police Command for posing as a military officer in Nasko, Magama local government area of the state.

The Command through the Public Relations Officer, PRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun made this known in Minna,

It said the suspect was arrested for unlawful possession of military accoutrements, impersonation and belonging to a gang of brigands.

He explained that his arrest on 31/07/2022 was based on a tip-off that an individual who has been parading himself as a military officer was sighted along the Ibeto area of Nasko, Magama LGA.

Abiodun said on receipt of this information, Police operatives attached to Nasko Division mobilized to the area and effected his arrest.

Aliyu Umar who hails from Wawu-Garin Warra, Ngaski LGA of Kebbi State, Abiodun said during interrogation, denied being a military officer, but claimed that the accoutrements belongs to his brother who is a soldier man serving at Warri.

The Command’s spokesman also disclosed that the suspect has been on its watchlist since 2020 as he abandoned a Honda Accord vehicle with Reg.No. RBC 143 FF at Maje along Kotangora road in the year 2020 to evade arrest for a similar offence.

The command stated,” he couldn’t give a satisfactory account of himself as he claimed to be a car dealer and farmer while he further said the cash in his possession was meant to purchase a vehicle”.

Items found in his possession include one Mercedes Benz with Reg. No. BDG 300 TA, one NDA emblem, one military camouflage, a jungle hat, one military vest with a belt, one military face mask, two ropes, three sim cards of different network providers, and the sum of N720,000( seven hundred and twenty thousand naira).

Meanwhile, the case is under investigation and the suspect will be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after investigation.

The Command then urged members of the public to be more vigilant and report any strange person (s) to the Police and other security agencies for prompt intervention.