NAVY CLAMPS DOWN ON SUSPECTED IMPOSTOR
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy at the weekend clamped down on a man who allegedly specialized in using naval uniform to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
The officers and men of Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Wey arrested the man in full naval combat uniform at the Coconut area of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, while continuing with the exercise to rid the area of traffic gridlock.
Identified as Amudipe Oluwafisayo, the 28-year-old man was allegedly notorious in the act of dispossessing unsuspecting persons of their belonging under the guise of being a naval personnel. At the time of his arrest, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a midshipman (officer cadet) of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, but was wearing the rank of a Seaman (private),
He claimed to have N28, 000 in his possession and was going to use the money to procure a United States visa.
The Nigerian Navy operatives confirmed the money found on him, but added that an identification card which was suspected to have been forged was also found on him.
When the Naval officers brought Oluwafisayo to the scene of the arrest, some tanker drivers were able to identify him as the mastermind of all harassment and extortion they had experienced within the last few weeks.
According to the chairmen of the oil tanker drivers' taskforce, who were identified as Comrade Oshokun and Sikiru Azeez, the suspected fake naval rating had earlier attacked their drivers when his move to extort them failed.
Oshokun told Daily Sun that the inability of some of the drivers to meet the demand of the suspect led to destruction of the windscreen of their tankers.
Speaking with Daily Sun, Oluwafisayo who was paraded before journalists denied being an officer of the Nigerian Navy, but revealed that he was trained by a maritime outfit located in Ota, Ogun State as a Merchant Navy personnel. He denied ever defrauding or extorting unsuspecting person explaining that the situation painted by tanker drivers was a case of mistaken identity.
However, speaking with Daily Sun, the Commanding Officer NNS Wey, Commodore Emmanuel Ofik said that the Nigerian public should be aware that not all who wear the naval uniform are real naval personnel.
He said that within the last few months, over seven persons masquerading as naval personnel have been arrested by the operatives of the NNS Wey.
He added that the suspected imposter would be handed over to the police after investigations, but pointed that the command will continue to ensure free flow of traffic along the Oshodi Apapa Expressway.