A 30-year-old suspect, Oluwatobi Salami, who was among the two paraded by the Ogun State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Tuesday, for vandalism and impersonation, has expressed his regrets over his actions.
Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta on Tuesday, the corps’ commandant, David Ojelabi, said Salami was arrested by members of the Sagamu community around the OGD International Market, on Saturday, and was later handed over to the officials of the NSCDC.
The commandant said, “Salami specialised in impersonating an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as an officer of the Nigerian Army. Found with him are the EFCC jackets and other dresses worn by the soldiers.
“He would be handed over to the appropriate authority for further discrete investigation.”
Ojelabi explained further that “Idris Zakari, aged 20, of Bagudu Local Government, Kebbi State, was on Friday, August 9, 2024, arrested at a railway in Ifo Local Government Area of the state vandalising the railway clips.
“Zakari was arrested by the men of the So-Safe Corps and in the interest of inter-agency collaboration and effective investigation, he was handed over to the NSCDC state’s command for further investigation and prosecution.”
He said the act of vandalising government-owned infrastructure constituted an affront to our collective heritage and an act of economic sabotage that the command would never tolerate and ensure that those caught are made to pay for their criminal acts according to the laid down rules.
The commandant disclosed that the command would always be collaborating with other security agencies and members of the public to rid the state of crime and criminality.
While speaking with journalists, Salami revealed that he stole the EFCC uniforms from a hotel around the Lekki area of Lagos State while he contracted the printing of the Nigerian Army insignia on a vest he bought so that he could be taken to be an officer of the Nigerian Army.
He said, “I stole the uniforms from a bag that I picked up from a hotel in Lekki. I didn’t wear it but I have taken pictures with it and sent it to my friends who I had told I am an officer.
“I also like entering Lagos as an officer. I sincerely regret this and I pray that the government will use this to warn me and let me go as my parents are dead.’
