Date: 2016-08-24

The Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences in Offa, Kwara, on Tuesday said that it had arrested a 28-year-old man, Salami Olalekan, who allegedly disguised as a soldier, to defraud his victim.

The commandant of the school, Navy Capt. Ibrahim Nurudeen, said this while handing over the suspect to some army personnel from Sobi Barracks, Ilorin. Nurudeen added that it arrested the suspect's accomplice.

The commandant said that Olalekan was arrested wearing an army camouflage and using a fake-identity card belonging to the army to extort unsuspecting members of the public.

He said that the suspect was arrested along with an accomplice whose claimed to be a serving officer with the army. The commandant, however, said that his case was still been verified by the military authorities.

Nurudeen said that the identity card and other documents tendered by the said accomplice had been handed over to the army for proper identification and verification.

The naval officer said the Navy in Offa had received a series of complaints bordering on people who disguised as newly-posted army personnel, to defraud influential personalities in the community. He said that the collaboration between the Navy and the Offa community on security facilitated the arrest of Olalekan and his accomplice.

Nurudeen said the suspects were apprehended while trying to cash a cheque for N20, 000 from a branch of the Union Bank in the town following a trip-off. He said that the suspects had collected the cheque from one of their victims.

"They disguised as army personnel to deceive their victim and in the process, collected a cheque for N20, 000 from him. "They had also gone to the branch of the Union Bank in the community, in an attempt to cash the said amount.

"But for the security synergy that existed between the Navy and the community, they were promptly arrested," Nurudeen said. However, Olalekan, who claimed to be a driver and a native of Ondo State, while confessing to the act, said that the army camouflage belonged to his late brother.

He said that the act, for which he was arrested, was his first attempt. "It was after my arrest that I knew the gravity of the offence I committed." Olalekan promised to turn a new leaf if left off the hook.

Mr Jare Olatundun, an indigene of Offa, lauded the Navy for its foresight and being security conscious.

He said that the command had, on many occasions, demonstrated its capabilities to tackle crimes and other vices, without any compromise. "The presence of the Navy school has been a thing of joy to this community, especially, in the area of adequate protection of lives and properties," he said.

Olatundun urged parents to be more proactive in their responsibilities so as to give their children good moral upbringing. "I want to charge parents and teachers to do more in educating the younger ones on the dangers inherent in such illicit act," he said. (NAN)