The Army and Naval authorities in Delta have moved to stop the use of their uniforms and official documents by unapproved persons in the state.
There has been concern over the use of the materials by some youths in the state, who are suspected to employ it for criminal purposes.
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, Delta State, it was gathered, have so far arrested 14 persons in various parts of the state for illegally possessing documents and uniforms belonging to the Army.
The items recovered from the suspects included army logos, insignia, recruitment application forms and assorted military outfits.
The Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt.-Col. Ifeanyin Otu, who paraded the suspects in Warri, maintained that the trend had become even more dangerous given the security situation in the country.
Naval officers in Warri also last week arrested five suspects who were in possession of documents belonging to the force and attempting to defraud a minister from Benin Republic of N25bn.
The operation, which led to the arrest of the suspects at Mimi Hotel in Warri, the Navy said, was carried out following a tip-off.
The Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Commodore Stephen Kor, said some documents recovered from the gang were naval and NNPC letters for clearance of vessels and logos belonging to the force.
But parading some suspects at the Effurun Barracks, Otu said the action of the 14 suspects, mainly drawn from the Delta State University, Anwai Campus in Asaba and Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, ran contrary to existing laws.
“If this trend is not checked, it is capable of constituting a serious security breach. In recent times, we have witnessed an increase in the number of unregistered organisations that parade themselves as members of the Army.
“We have had criminals dress in Army or police uniform, who indulged in criminal activities. This is a trend that needs to be checked. For now, we are not aware of any organisation approved by the army to use its uniforms,” he added.
Displaying the items, which also included identity cards bearing the inscription of the Effurun Barracks, Otu stated that the boys had been selling recruitment forms to unsuspecting members of the public.
“These suspects have been parading themselves as members of the Nigerian Army Cadet Force and they are totally unknown to us; it is not an approved organisation and they do not have a right to use our documents and uniforms,” the commander said.
Members of the organisation, it was gathered, were picked up in various parts of the state following what the Army said was information it received from ‘higher quarters’ about the activities of the group.
But one of the suspects, Stephen Okoh, a 500-level student of Delsu, Anwai Campus, who identified himself as the ‘Commanding Officer’ of the “illegal” association, denied that the items were used for any criminal purpose.
According to the student of Agricultural Economics, the school had always had the uniforms for members of the cadet and therefore it was not an offence to wear them.
| Posted: at | |
dlimelite
cadanre
Solidstonez
Treasure2
TRENDING GISTS 
Gosple Singer Yinka Alaseyori Expresses Gratitude As She Celebrate Her Birthday With Lovely Photos
Mohbad's Father, Joseph Aloba Reacts After Receiving Petition& Invitation From Police
BREAKING: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike 
Landlord Dies During Argument With Tenant Over Unpaid Rent In Ogun, Sparking Probe
"I Wasn't Shading Wizkid With My Comment" - Ladipoe Clarifies Social Media Controversy