Police in Ondo have arrested a newly-recruited policeman, David Friday, and a soldier, Innocent Victor, for alleged armed robbery.
Friday, who was attached to Olofin Police Station in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, was arrested along with Victor, a soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Owena Cantonment.
The policeman and the soldier allegedly attacked and robbed some residents of Ojadele Junction in Akure, the state capital, using dangerous weapons.
Ondo State Police Commissioner, Bolaji Salami, who paraded the suspects on Thursday, said David had earlier stolen an exhibit motorcycle at his duty post before he was caught for another robbery act.
Salami said, “He was being tried for that motorcycle theft when he was caught conspiring with a soldier to rob some people with a dagger. We paraded them and the victims identified them. Other victims came and identified them. When we are done with our investigation, we will charge them to court.”
The police commissioner said some of the items they reportedly stole were N6000, one itel phone valued at N8500, 30 litres of petrol and N125,000.
But the soldier denied involvement in the crime, saying he stepped back at the scene of the incident.
“I was only arrested for being on illegal duty, not robbery,” he said.
The police also paraded a man, identified as Desmond Ikechukwu, who had allegedly been parading himself as a soldier to intimidate members of the public.
Desmond, who confessed that he was not a soldier, said he wore the uniform to a drinking joint, where he was arrested.
The Ondo police boss said that all the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.