Army arrests fake lieutenant in Rivers

The Nigerian Army, on Saturday in Port Harcourt, arrested "22-year-old" Francis Uche for parading himself as a Second Lieutenant in the Army.

Maj. Mike Etete, the Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade/Sector Two Joint Task Force, disclosed this while parading the suspect before journalists.

Etete said that the suspect was arrested following an intelligence report received on September 24.

“Following military intelligence report on September 24, Francis Uche, who hails from Ohua-Zara LGA in Ebonyi state, was arrested while pretending to be an Officer of the Nigerian Army," he narrated.

“He was arrested wearing the rank of Second Lieutenant on Army camouflage uniform, with a fake military identification card in Oyibo local government area in Rivers.

“Uche specialises in duping and swindling unsuspecting citizens by keeping a dossier on his victims.”

Etete said the suspect would be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.

The military spokesman said it was illegal and criminal for unauthorised members of the general public to be in possession of military uniform and other accoutrements.

He called on the general public to provide information to security agencies that would lead to the arrest of individuals or groups involved in criminal activities.

The suspect, Francis Uche, told journalists he enrolled into the Army in June but did not pass the final training.

“Afterwards, life became unbearable for me and, out of frustration I bought this uniform and the bib for N2,000 from a man in Zaria, Kaduna State," he said.