By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Since he couldn’t be a real officer of the Nigerian Army, John Ladong decided to live in his own world as a fake soldier with a car fully coloured in the Nigerian army green. He had lived this wishful lifestyle as a Captain for a while, until his cup of criminal impersonation became full.
The Police Command in Plateau caught up with this fake soldier who is from Gero community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau state for personating as a Captain of the Nigerian Army.
Edward Egbuka, the Commissioner in-charge of the command, paraded the fake soldier before newsmen on Saturday in Jos.
The commissioner explained that the suspect was arrested and handed over to the police by operatives of ‘Operation Safe Haven’ (OPSH), a special task force charged with the maintenance of peace in the state.
Egbuka explained that the fake soldier, who was arrested on May 18 at Ryom, was also putting on a full army camouflage uniform, and driving an army coloured Peugeot 206 vehicle.
“After the arrest, the personnel of OPSH transferred the suspect and handed him over to our Area Command in Bukuru.
“Upon interrogation, it was established that the suspect was not a military personnel,” the CP said.
Egbuka said 15 sets of army and Air Force uniforms, 15 forcecom SIM cards, two pairs of military boots, one jack knife, and other items were found in the suspect’s possession.
The commissioner said that the fake soldier would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
When quizzed by newsmen why he was impersonating as an army officer, he said he was once a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Air Force but dismissed from service for mutiny. He said he regretted his action.
