Troops arrest suspected fake soldier over phone snatching in Jos
- Troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested Salim Idris at Filin Sukuwa in Jos North on October 25.
- The army said he was caught in military camouflage after intelligence on alleged phone snatching and public disturbance.
- Separately, troops in Nasarawa arrested two other suspected fake soldiers with two cutlasses in Lafia.
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a man accused of posing as a soldier and snatching phones in Jos North, Plateau State.
The suspect, identified as Salim Idris, was picked up at about 11:30 am on October 25 at Filin Sukuwa in Jos North, according to Captain Chinonso Oteh, media information officer of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace.
Oteh confirmed the arrest to Punch on Monday. In a later report, he said the troops came from Sector 1 of the operation and acted on intelligence about the suspect's alleged activities in the area.
He said the troops trailed Idris and arrested him while he was wearing military camouflage.
“Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the suspect had been involved in a series of alleged criminal activities, including public disturbance, phone snatching and impersonation of security agencies,” Oteh said.
The suspect remains in the custody of the troops while investigations continue. He has not been charged in court, and the claims against him are allegations for now.
Why it matters to residents
Phone snatching is a daily worry for many people in Jos and other Nigerian cities, where a stolen handset can cost a worker months of income. Criminals who dress as soldiers make it harder for residents to tell who is really on patrol, and can damage trust in the security forces.
The arrest is one of several recent cases of impersonation in the region. In Nasarawa State, troops of Sector 2, Operation Whirl Stroke, arrested two other suspected fake soldiers at Asakiyo in Lafia Local Government Area.
According to a post on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama, the two were arrested at about 1 pm on Saturday during a security operation while allegedly posing as military personnel. Two cutlasses and other items were reportedly recovered from them.
The suspects and the recovered items are in the custody of the troops for further investigation.
What happens next
The army has not said when Idris or the two Nasarawa suspects will be handed to the police or charged. Residents with information on impersonators are usually advised to report to the nearest security post.
