Police Arrest Fake Military Officer, Naval Impostor

Police Arrest Fake Military Officer, Naval Impostor

The Police, in two separate operations, arrested a fake military officer, including fake Naval personnel in Bayelsa State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Yenagoa, DSP Musa Mohammed, in a statement, on Friday, narrated on 13th February, 2026, at about 1500 hours, operatives attached to Ekeki Division, arrested Kelechi Lazarus ‘m’, 25 years old, dressed in military camouflage with the rank of Corporal, who attempted to fraudulently withdraw the sum of N200,000 at Ekeki Park, Yenagoa, by sending fake alert to the POS operator.

The PPRO said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect showed the victim a purported credit alert on his mobile phone as proof of transfer.

“However, the victim did not receive any corresponding alert on her device and insisted on verification at her bank. Upon inquiry, the bank confirmed that no such transaction was made into her account.

“Consequently, the suspect, thereafter, persuaded the POS operator to accompany him to his bank for further clarification but later changed his mind and suggested proceeding to his base at 16 Brigade.

“Suspecting foul play, the victim declined. The suspect assaulted her, inflicting bodily injuries on her,” Mohammed narrated.

He maintained that the POS operator immediately alerted the Police control room, in which operatives attached to Ekeki Police Division, swung into action and arrested the suspect.

The PPRO said that upon search, illicit substances were recovered from him. Investigation further revealed that the suspect had allegedly defrauded several members of the public in different states, using similar modus oprandi, he said.

The Commissioner of Police promptly contacted the Military Police of 16 Brigade for verification of the suspect identity and was confirmed a dismissed soldier from 82 division, Enugu in 2024.

The case has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for discreet investigation. Thereafter, suspect will be charge to court, the PPRO said.

Mohammed further indicated that, in a related development, on 16th February, 2026, at about 1650 hours, troops of 16 Brigade, Yenagoa, arrested and handed over one suspect, Isah Aliyu Umar, ‘M’ 25 years old, from Bauchi State but resident in Kaduna State, to the Bayelsa State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yenagoa. The suspect was arrested at the 16 Brigade Mosque premises Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

According to the PPRO, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has been parading himself as a Lieutenant in the Nigeria Navy across various States.

A search was conducted on him and the following exhibits were recovered: several falsified documents, Nigeria Navy name tag, wallet containing several SIM cards, several passport photographs, one camouflage trousers, one Navy trousers, one Oppo Android phone, three National Identity Cards, one fake DNV Management System Certificate and one fake report on ownership of Seven Million Dollars by Ganjuwa Gorond Global Enterprise.

The suspect is currently undergoing investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yenagoa. Suspect will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation, Mohammed said.

The Command, under the State Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, advised members of the public to be cautious of individuals parading themselves as security personnel without proper identification.

Anyone With useful information relating to this suspect or similar activities is advised to report to the nearest Police Station, Mohammed said.