Police arrest fake Army officers, impound vehicles in Abuja

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested two suspects, Emmanuel Linus and Moses Daniel, for impersonating Nigerian Army personnel.

Linus was apprehended on November 30, 2024, around 2:00 p.m., while wearing full Nigerian Army camouflage. During questioning, Linus allegedly presented a fake military ID card, which listed his birthdate as December 20, 2024, raising immediate suspicions.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, revealed that Linus and Daniel were part of a criminal syndicate involved in defrauding unsuspecting victims. The group is said to purchase goods and services using fraudulent bank alerts to deceive sellers. The police have launched a thorough investigation and are working to apprehend other members of the syndicate. Authorities promised to provide further updates as the investigation unfolds.

Disu also highlighted the progress of a recent directive banning vehicles without number plates and the use of tinted windows. Since the launch of the Special Tactical Team, 296 vehicles have been impounded for violations, including driving with defaced or single number plates and the use of tinted glass.

In a separate operation, two suspects were arrested for vandalizing streetlight poles behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stealing cables. One of the suspects, identified as David Maji, was a dismissed police officer. The stolen cables, valued between ₦20 million and ₦25 million, were recovered, along with streetlight poles and cables. The suspects, Awal Mustaf and Maji, are currently in custody for further investigation.

In total, Disu reported that 16 suspects were paraded, along with 11 exhibits and seven vehicles.