LAGOS— DETECTIVES attached to the anti-robbery squad of the Ejigbo Division, Lagos, weekend, arrested a graduate applicant for allegedly impersonating as a Lieutenant Commander with the Nigerian Navy. The man identified as Francis Uwalaka (34), according to Police sources, is a graduate of micro-biology from one of the southern universities. He was alleged to have visited a social joint in Jakande estate, Isolo in company of his cousin identified as Emmanuel.

Sources said shortly after the suspect arrived the popular joint run by a female Lagos socialite (names withheld), he started harassing everybody including the owner of the joint and her sales girls. He was reported to have called the woman unprintable names and threatened to shoot and arrest anybody that dared him. Crime Alert was told that all entreaties by his cousin to calm him down fell on deaf ears as the suspect allegedly kicked tables and broke bottles. However, nemesis later caught up with the Imo state-born job seeker who was said to have just concluded his one- year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), after he allegedly brought out a sharp object and slammed it severally on the head of one of the sales girls called Chinasa who slumped in the pool of her blood.

She was promptly rushed to a nearby medical center where doctors battled to save her life. Apparently aware of the offence he had committed, he attempted to flee the scene but was given a hot chase by sympathizers and apprehended. Meanwhile, an operative of the State Security Service (SSS) who was unknowingly monitoring events at an adjacent joint was invited and upon interrogation, it was discovered that the said Francis who had initially introduced himself as a naval personnel and later a clinical psychologist, was actually a jobless graduate. It was the SSS operative who subsequently alerted the police who arrived the scene and whisked the suspect to their station for further interrogation.

Contacted for comments, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu said he was yet to be briefed adding that impersonation was a grave offence punishable under the criminal code. He added that the suspect would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations.