Fake Soldier, Medical Doctor Arrested in Akwa Ibom

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday disclosed the arrest of two persons who faked as a soldier and a medical doctor in the state.

The command said the arrest was achieved following the beaming of its searchlights on impersonators of security personnel and other professionals. “This has led to the arrest of a fake soldier and a fake doctor.”

The command in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, said the arrest of the impersonated soldier was made on November 16, 2021.

He said at about 1:00a.m. while on a stop and search operation along Nwaniba Road within Uyo Metropolis, “Operatives of Anti-Robbery Squad reasonably suspected and arrested one Akpan Mfon Essien ‘m’ of Ikot Andem Itam Village in Itu L.G.A, who resides at Idu Uruan, Uruan L.G.A.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to be impersonating a soldier. He led operatives to his house where two pairs of army uniforms, army shorts, two army sweaters, army belt, two army caps, three pairs of army boot, two army jack-knives, two walkie talkie, one live Jacket, one stethoscope and a blue colour Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. LSR 735 AC were recovered.

Police said the suspect used the uniform to deceive, intimidate and commit heinous crimes around Uruan and Uyo.

On the arrest of the fake medical doctor, police said one Samuel Isaac Jumbo ‘m’, aged 29yrs old of No. 26 Asokoro Road, Area II, Abuja who claimed to be a Medical Doctor attached to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) was arrested.

The PPRO said the fake medical doctor was arrested on November 30, 2021 at about 11:00a.m. when the Quick Intervention Unit Operatives of the command proceeded to Tranquility Hotel, Nung Oku Village, in Ibesikpo, Asutan L.G.A to effect the arrest.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and stated that he is not a medical doctor as claimed.

“In his confessional statement, he stated that in 2015, he told his mother that he had gotten admission into the University of Lagos to study Medicine, since then, he has collected various sums of money from her.

“He further stated that on 3/11/2021, he told his mother that he was going for National Youth Service (NYSC) at Rivers State and collected the sum of N200,000.00 for accommodation from her after she had bought a lot of household items for him.

“He took the money and items, came down to Uyo, squandered it and continue to deceive unsuspecting members of the public and the hotel management that he was a medical doctor.

“To convince the public, he will dress up or carry his lab coat, use a bolt cab to UUTH Abak Road, after loitering around for a while, he goes back to his hotel and look for unsuspecting members of the public to defraud.”, the Police stated.

The state police command in the statement stressed the two suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.