Fake Army Major Paraded In Edo After Duping Citizens Of N10m

Fake Army Major
A man who allegedly defrauded several
persons of over N10 million while parading
himself as an army major was yesterday
paraded by soldiers attached to attached to
the Edo State joint military anti-robbery unit,
code named Operation Thunder Storm.
Army Public Relations Officer, Capt. Roselyn
Managbe, while parading the fake army major
identified as Kabiru John from Nasarawa
State, and other suspected criminals at the 4
Brigade Army Headquarters, Benin City, said
the suspect had perpetrated frauds, including
tricking one Ayeni Friday and one Tony Kabaka
into parting with their vehicles.
According to her, Kabaka parted with his Lexus
SUV in exchange for securing entry into the
army school for his son, as promised by the
fake army major. Kabaka, Chairman of Akugbe
Ventures, is one of the consultants to the Edo
State government on revenue generation.
Managbe said soldiers from the brigade also
arrested suspected robbers, including Monday
Aigbe, an ex-convict and a suspected narcotic
dealer, Mrs. Josephine Ochini.
"on June 20, 2013, one Mr. Ayeni Friday of 17,
Eguaeveon Avenue, Benin City complained to
troops of Operation Thunder Storm that he
gave his vehicle, a blue Chrysler 300
2005/2006 model without registration number
to one Major John Kabiru of 4 Brigade Provost
Company for repairs on May 28, 2013. He said
efforts to retrieve his car from him proved
abortive.
"Our preliminary investigation revealed that Mr.
Kabiru John had been parading himself as a
major in the Nigerian Army. It was also
revealed that he claimed to be serving in 4
Brigade as the Officer Commanding the
Provost Company. It was further revealed that
he was always seen around dressed in full
military gear while involving himself in all
forms of shady deals and duping unsuspecting
victims.
"Mr. John Kabiru confessed that the Lexus
SUV which was recovered from him with
registration number EDO BF 607 USL belonged
to one Mr. Tony Kabaka of 18, Etete GRA,
Benin-City.
"The suspect claimed that he trickishly
collected the Lexus SUV from the victim with
the promise that he would secure admission
for his son into the Nigeria Defence Academy.
He also confessed that he had duped several
unsuspecting persons under the pretext of
either helping them to join the Nigerian Army
or securing admissions for their wards into
military institutions," Managbe said.
The fake army Major claimed to have joined
the army in 2003, but was dismissed in 2006.
He also said he graduated in Electrical
Engineering, from Nasarrawa State
Polytechnic.
"I served at 82 Battalion, Jos, but I was
dismissed in 2006, with the rank of private. I
was doing it (impersonating) because friends
that I knew thought I was still in the army. I
have learnt to think good things, I have learnt
to stay out of crime and stop parading myself
wrongly," John said.
One fake JTF staff tag, International passport,
combat gears, an army kit bag, a digital
camera and a vehicle number plate, were some
of the items recovered from the fake officer.