The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, John Shehu, for allegedly impersonating a soldier, attacking a prospective employer and stealing his vehicle.
Key Highlights
- Bauchi police arrest 26-year-old John Shehu for allegedly impersonating a soldier.
- Suspect allegedly attacked a pure water factory owner during a driving test and fled with his vehicle.
- Stolen vehicle recovered in Jos, Plateau State.
- Army uniforms, jungle hat, raincoat and other military items recovered from the suspect.
- CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu says the suspect will be charged to court after investigation.
The suspect, identified as a resident of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, allegedly posed as a soldier attached to the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks, 134 Special Forces Battalion, Borno State.
The police said he was arrested following an investigation into a petition by a Bauchi-based businessman, who accused him of assault, criminal breach of trust, impersonation and theft.
How The Suspect Struck
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, the complainant, a resident of the Gida Dubu area of Bauchi, had received a call from the suspect, who presented himself as John Shehu and requested employment as a driver at his pure water factory.
The complainant subsequently invited him for an interview and driving assessment.
However, during the assessment on October 22, 2026, the suspect allegedly attacked the factory owner and the son of one of his neighbours before escaping with the employer’s vehicle.
The stolen vehicle was identified as a white H-Jet vehicle with registration number AE-278-ALK. The suspect also allegedly stole a green Infinix Smart 5X mobile phone belonging to the complainant.
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Vehicle, Military Items Recovered
Habib said detectives launched an intelligence-led investigation following the petition and eventually arrested the suspect.
The police disclosed that the stolen vehicle was recovered from the suspect in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
A search conducted on him also led to the recovery of several military items, including two complete sets of army camouflage uniforms, a jungle hat, an army raincoat, a camouflage vest and an army sweater.
The suspect allegedly presented himself as Private Umar Shehu, with service number NA/22/82/1064, claiming to be attached to the military formation in Borno State.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged impersonation and warned that the command would not tolerate individuals disguising themselves as security personnel to commit crimes.
The police commissioner assured that the suspect would undergo a thorough investigation and be charged before a court.
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