A fake naval officer has been arrested at the premises of the National Assembly by a combined team of the Nigerian Navy and other security outfits.
Mr Benson Edema, at the time of his arrest last Friday, was dressed in the uniform and accouterments of a naval commodore, (equivalent to a Brigadier General) within the precinct of the National Assembly, Abuja.
The fake naval commodore, who was arrested alongside another suspect also dressed up in naval uniform, is alleged to be the arrow head of a fake maritime security organisation that goes by the name ‘Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps’, which has since been proscribed by the Nigerian Navy.
A statement from the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, yesterday, announcing the arrest, said operatives of the Nigerian Navy in conjunction with other security agencies have maintained red alert vigilance to ensure that the naval impostors are promptly apprehended.
The statement added that the Nigerian Navy, NN, has began massive crackdown on impostors who are using naval uniforms and accoutrements to deceive, harass, intimidate and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
“The mandate to ensure that any impostor does not go scot-free emanates from the fact that several cases of security breaches and criminal activities involving fake naval personnel have been reported by victims of these unauthorized and largely proscribed maritime outfits namely; Nigerian Merchant Marine, Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps, Global College of Marine and Technology, Merchant Navy Maritime Academy as well as Nigeria Merchant Navy and Maritime Law Enforcement Agency among others.
“In view of the fragile security situation in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta area, the activities of these illegal and proscribed maritime security organisations has posed great danger to the frantic efforts by the Nigerian Navy and sister security services to mitigate the security challenges in the country.
“The Nigerian Navy hereby resolves to deal decisibly with anyone who might be contemplating to test the will of the service in checkmating activities of criminal gangs and impostors in the maritime domain,” the Nigerian Navy said.
