MOGBE: Four fake soldiers have been arrested at Idi-Araba, Agege and Mile 2 areas of Lagos state.

The Nation reports that the fake soldiers were paraded by Fatai Owoseni, the commissioner of the police, on Tuesday, October 27.

According to the police, the suspects are 25-year old John Izunwanne, 23-year-old John Otu, 22-year-old Richard Acha, and 39-year-old Simon Anthony.

Briefing journalists, Owoseni said that materials recovered from the suspects included: two Nigerian army camouflage uniforms, army camouflage t-shirts, a pair of boots, two army belts and two jungle hats.

One of the arrested men, Anthony, revealed that he had been dismissed from service as a corporal for falling out from duty.

“I was dismissed in January 2014 for falling out from duty. I am from Adamawa state. I wanted to use the uniform to travel to Lagos because I had no transport money. But unfortunately, I was arrested by soldiers,” he said.

Another suspect, Acha, said that he had found the camouflage t-shirt inside the bag his brother gave him at Ikeja cantonment.

Izunwanne told journalists that he bought the uniform at Ojo Cantonment on September 2.

“I wanted to go and sign my army recruitment form at Ojo Barracks when I bought the uniform at the Mammy Market. However, on October 7, my friend had a court case and I was to appear in court as a witness. The court was in Agege and I did not have the transport fare to go, so, I decided to wear my uniform to save me the cost of transportation,” he said.

Otu said that he heard his friends were arrested and went to the police to secure their bail, but was also apprehended for wearing the uniform.

Earlier this year, the Lagos state police command apprehended three fake soldiers, one fake Air Force personnel and three car snatchers.

Owoseni revealed that one of the suspects threatened to blow up the Command Headquarters because police officers at Ipaja Division refused to grant his friend bail.