The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 108 suspects allegedly impersonating men and officers of the Nigerian Navy.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, disclosed that operatives of the force nabbed the suspects during a raid on their training camp in the Ogudu-Sanfield area of the state on Wednesday.
While parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Odumosu said the commanding officer of the training camp, Sunday Dakare, was also arrested, adding that the suspects were operating under the name of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, also called the Coastal Defence.
Odumosu said, “On November 10, 2021, around 11am, the Lagos State Police Command raided the illegal training camp of the Merchant Navy located in the Ogudu-Sandfield area, Lagos State, and arrested the Commanding Officer, Sunday Dakare, 47, together with 107 suspects currently on training.
“I wish to inform you that there has been credible actionable intelligence on the illegal activities of the Merchant Navy following which the command embarked on intensive surveillance of the camp and its activities therein. Consequent upon intensive monitoring of the camp and its operators, the command carried out a well-coordinated overt operation at the training camp in the early hours of today.
“During the raid, which was coordinated by the operations department of the command, the following items were recovered: several military accoutrements, including camouflage badges of ranks, a flag, a signboard and ID cards. Other items recovered include recruitment letters, promotion letters, a portrait of the commanding officer, two motorcycles, one plasma TV, three cutlasses, criminal charms and other items.”
The CP, who urged members of the public to be wary of people posing as military personnel to carry out illegal operations in the state, noted that the Federal Government had outlawed the Nigerian Merchant Navy.
