“I abandoned military over fears of fighting Boko Haram” – Man arrested for impersonation confesses

One Emmanuel Anthony who was dismissed from the Nigerian Army as Lance Corporal, on Monday confessed to impersonating the Force.

Anthony said he was afraid of fighting the Boko Haram insurgents, after being deployed to the Northeast.

According to Anthony, he had deserted the force in 2016 thereafter being declared wanted.

He said: “I was a Lance Corporal. I deserted the army in 2016. I ran from the Northeast where I was deployed to fight Boko Haram. I was given two weeks pass to go and see my family but I did not return.

“I went to Akwa Ibom State and stayed there for over a month. I was declared wanted and the army arrested me. I was punished and sent back to the Northeast but I fled. I was afraid and did not want to fight Boko Haram.”

Owning up to his crime, Anthony said after he was dismissed, he had been impersonating an Army Lieutenant.

“I bought the uniform and the rank. I did fake identity card and also printed pass forms which I usually filled and stamped each time I went out to show any personnel who checked me,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anthony was paraded at the 81 Division headquarters in Lagos alongside 12 others, including three dismissed personnel arrested for similar offences.