Police Parade Fake Soldier, Gunrunner, 42 Others In Plateau

The Plateau State Police Command said on Friday that operatives of the command arrested a man identified simply as Lucky Okoh for disguising himself as a soldier.

This is as the command arrested 43 other suspects for various criminal offences.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Hassan Yabanet, while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Jos, said they committed offences ranging from kidnapping, defilement of a minor, culpable homicide, armed robbery, cultism, and gun running, among others.

He said, “On 4th of March, 2024, at about 02:30 pm, one Shedrack Sabo of ATM quarters, Bukuru, reported at the SWAT Unit that on 16th February, 2024, at about 04:30 pm, one Lucky Okoh, male, showed him a military identity card and introduced himself as a captain in the military.

“He further convinced him to pay the sum of N110,000 to secure him a job.

“The suspect, one Lucky Okoh, male, of Guratopp, was arrested by SWAT operatives on 4th March, 2024, at about 3:00 pm .

“After a thorough search was conducted on his house, one military identity card, three Nigerian army recruitment forms, and one NSCDC recruitment form were recovered.”

Yabanet said the investigation on the matter is still ongoing.

The CP also disclosed that a 24-year-old man was arrested for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl.

According to him, “On the 6th March, 2024, at about 11:20 hours, one Fatima Abdul, female, 52 years, of Farin Lamba village, came to the Barkin Ladi Police Station and reported that her 13-year-old daughter left home to Farin Lamba market on 11/02/2024 to buy food items and in the process, one John Sati Choji, male, 24 years old, of Vwang village, lured her to his house and had carnal knowledge of her.

“The suspect was immediately arrested on receipt of the complaint and investigation is ongoing,” the CP explained.

Yabanet added, “On 3rd April, 2024, at 10:30hours, intelligence information was received by the DPO Bokkos who acted on the tip-off and led a crack team of IGP intervention squad.

“The operation led to the arrest of one Saddam Abdulmumuni, male, of Angwan Shukur of Bokkos town, who was an escapee of the 2021 Jos jailbreak.

“The suspect is currently under investigation at the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Command.”

He said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

On the arrest of a suspected cultist, the CP said, “On the 3rd April, 2024, at about 1800hrs while on routine patrol around Bauchi Road, Jos North, SWAT operatives apprehended one Mohammed Awal of Filin Sukuwa area of Jos North LGA who, with his gang members, stabbed one Halima Hussaini, female, of Angwan Rogo of Jos North on her left hand and dispossessed her of her TECNO handset.

“When search was conducted in his house and premises, one long cutlass was recovered.”

The CP assured that all suspects arrested for the crimes would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

“I wish to at this juncture appreciate members of the public for their cooperation, support and encourage them to continue to give us timely and accurate information to enable us stem the tide of crime in the State,” the CP admonished.