Nigerian Military arrests Woman impersonating

Nigerian Military arrests Woman impersonating A Soldier In Akure

Angela Tonye Omieh

The Ondo State Artillery Brigade, a division of the Nigerian Army, have arrested a middle aged woman for allegedly impersonating a solider, according to their spokesperson, Captain Ademola Adegoke.

Captain Adegoke said the suspect, Angela Tonye Omieh, who was paraded at the Army's barracks in Akure today, was arrested following a tip-off from her boyfriend after he became suspicious about her work.

The suspect claimed to belong to the 149 Battalion in Ojo, Lagos State but was deployed for military duty at Joint Task Force Warri, Delta State.  She was discovered with military kits to include: two pairs of camouflage, a camouflage t- shirt and shorts, one pair of desert boots, one jungle hat, three handsets, and a military uniform. During interrogation the suspect claimed she had lost her military identification card but then confessed to the crime and said she had bought the military uniforms from an army depot in Northern Zaria, Kaduna state.

Angela Omieh told Saharareporters she'd impersonated a solider after her father died in 2011.  She had attended the Nigerian Army depot but after sustaining injuries she could not continue with the program. She said, "I could not continue my education and I needed to make ends meet. I bought the Military outfits and wore it whenever I want(ed) to travel to Cotonou, Benin Republic for businesses, or any occasion outside the state."

The Suspect further revealed that she never attended any military school, and was not qualified or had any prerequisites as a military officer.

Saharareporters contacted the Warri Joint Task Force who denied knowledge of Angela Omieh but referred our inquiries to Abujua.

The whistle-blower, and boyfriend of Omieh, Collins Jegede from Owo area of Ondo State, told Saharareporters he met her through the social media site, Facebook, where he wooed her, and she accepted his request to be friends.

Jegede said they first meet January 15, 2014 and she appeared in her military uniform.  During a second visit instead of lodging him in the Ojo Military barracks she lodged him in a private hotel at Agbado-Ijaye, Sango Axis of Ogun State. Jegede said he became suspicious when Omieh paid him a visit on April 17, 2014, and claimed she was reporting to military officers in charge of a checkpoint at Owo in Ondo State.