The Lagos Police Command has begun investigating the activities of three men who were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft for impersonating naval officers and engaging in fraudulent activities.
Three personnel of a security outfit named Gallantry Intelligence Corps of Nigeria were arrested by a naval patrol team in Isolo, Lagos State on September 1. They were then handed over to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID) in Panti for prosecution.
A senior police officer, who confirmed the incident, said that the suspects were taken into custody after they were handed over to the police by the naval team led by Lieutenant Commander E. A. Bisong and Lieutenant H. A. Collins.
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said that the three suspects were arrested after the naval authorities received reports of their alleged fraudulent activities.
Oguntuga said that the naval authorities were informed that the men had been parading the area with posters of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla, and alleging that the Navy and the security outfit were collaborating to swindle the public.
He said: “In a significant development to prevent swindling the general public, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft patrol team apprehended three impostors within the vicinity of Isolo, Lagos State.”
“This operation, conducted on September 1, 2023, was initiated in response to reports of fraudulent individuals featuring the image of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla, in printed posters being circulated.”
“The impostors sought to deceive the public into believing there exists a false collaboration between an illegal security outfit, Gallantry Intelligence Corps of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Navy.”
Commodore Oguntuga appealed to the public to be aware of unscrupulous individuals who may try to inflict unnecessary hardship on them by using unpleasant means to lure innocent youths into illegitimate employment.
“The Nigerian Navy Under the leadership of Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla, reaffirms its commitment to thwarting all forms of illegality and remains resolute in providing conducive employment for law-abiding citizens to go about their business as well as ensuring safety and security of the public, which is essential for the economic prosperity of our nation.”
“The Navy also urges citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, as this is crucial in preserving the integrity of our defense forces and safeguarding the public from potential scams and fraudulent activities,” he added.