Respite in Aba As Fake Soldier Caught Extorting People
There seems to be relief to residents of Aba as Soldiers from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Aba arrested an unidentified fake soldier, who has been extorting unsuspecting citizens, at Milverton Avenue, close to Aba main motor park.
The soldiers attached to 144 Battalion, Asa, under the 14 Brigade Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, arrested the fake soldier, while on his extortionist activity.
Sources said the suspect was a regular night visitor at Milverton avenue and Aba motor park, where he openly collects money, from hard drug dealers, prostitutes and commercial drivers.
“Everybody knows him here. Even at the luxurious bus park, in Milverton, they all believed he is a soldier. He usually comes on Army T-shirt and his body build up doesn’t look civilian at all.
“I’ve once seen him catch some of these drug dealers here and threatened to take them to army barrack at Ngwa High School and at the end, he will leave them, after collecting money from them.
“You know Milverton has many miscreants, including street prostitutes around it. He’ll come, slap people, beat people and threaten to call his colleagues and commander, who sent him, if they fail to cooperate with him.
“Almost everybody here see him as the middle man for soldiers in their dirty deals around here with drug peddlers of hard drugs not knowing he’s fake, “Ekene Okparaeke, a source said.
A bus driver who just gave his name as Sunny said the suspect deceived everybody about his identity, until on Sunday night, when he met his waterloo. “When I saw the soldiers beating him, I wished I joined them to beat him. Do you know how much this guy has collected from people here? He doesn’t only collect from prostitutes and hard drugs dealers. He extorts whoever falls victim to his antics.
He goes after everyone he can intimidate and fabricate one offence or the other. He extorts money from bus drivers, like me that do night duty. Since this COVID-19 issue came up, he often comes with one demand or the other.
“I’m not happy that people say he only collects money from hard drugs dealers and prostitutes. He also collects from innocent drivers as well. Even those who deal on local alcoholic drinks on the road side are not left out. The guy is a crafty criminal.
“I know him, but I don’t know his name. I’m happy he has been exposed today. He was able to fool everybody, because of the fear people have for soldiers here. To avoid problem, people now do whatever anybody on army uniform wants”.
Captain Iliya Dauda confirmed the arrest of the suspect, stating that the army will carry out its own investigation on the offence the suspect was alleged to have committed. He stated that the outcome of their investigation will determine, if they will simply release the suspect or hand him over to the police.
