Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Recover Army Uniforms

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man identified as John Umar Shehu, from Bassa local government area of Plateau State, over alleged criminal impersonation, criminal breach of trust, assault and theft.

The command said it received a written petition on October 22, 2026 from one Salisu, a resident of the Gida Dubu area of Bauchi, against the suspect.

According to the petitioner, on October 18, 2026, he received a telephone call from an unidentified person who introduced himself as John Umar Shehu and expressed interest in securing a driving job at his pure water factory in Bauchi.

The caller was subsequently invited for an interview and driving assessment scheduled for October 19, 2026.

However, according to a statement issued yesterday by the police spokesman, SP Nafiu Habib, the suspect allegedly attacked the factory owner and the son of one of his neighbours on October 22, 2026 while the driving assessment was ongoing.

He allegedly deceived the victims before escaping with the owner’s vehicle to an unknown destination.

The stolen vehicle was identified as a white H-Jet motor vehicle with registration number AE-278-ALK, chassis number 5110P147308 and engine number 5110. A green Infinix Smart 5X mobile phone was also reportedly stolen.

Habib said detectives immediately commenced an investigation following the petition and subsequently arrested the suspect .

A search conducted on the suspect reportedly led to the recovery of several Nigerian Army uniforms and accessories, including a complete set of desert camouflage uniform with a jungle hat, a complete set of army-issued green camouflage uniform, an army raincoat, a camouflage vest and an army sweater.

The police spokesman added that the stolen vehicle was recovered from the suspect in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Further investigation reportedly revealed that the suspect had been parading himself as Private Umar Shehu, with service number NA/22/82/1064, allegedly attached to the 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks, 134 Special Forces Battalion, Borno State.

The commissioner of police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the act and warned that the command would not tolerate the use of security agencies’ identities to perpetrate criminal activities.

He assured members of the public that the suspect would be thoroughly investigated and charged to court.