By Anayo Okoli

Umuahia-Thirty-one persons with fake naval uniforms have been arrested by the  Nigerian Navy. This is coming as 45 suspected militants were arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics School Base, Owerrinta, Abia State.

The suspects who were paraded Monday before journalists, included nine females, aged between 17 and 30.

Parading the suspects, the Commandant of the Base, Commodore Christopher Goon, said on August 28, his men on patrol intercepted a convoy of  the Special Assistant to Imo State Governor on Security in-charge of Okigwe zone, being escorted to Aba by some men in naval uniform.

Goon explained that because they could not properly identify themselves as naval officers, the 11 men, were arrested with four rifles in their possession. On interrogation, they claimed to be men of Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Isiala Mbano, in Imo State.

Goon said he detailed his men to their camp at Isiala  Mbano, where 20 more of the fake naval men were arrested and another rifle also recovered. He said  the Navy released four persons the group had arrested and kept in their camp.

He said the men who were being illegally trained in the use of arms at Isiala Mbano were capable of breaching the peace of the state, because they do not have any visible means of livelihood.

Goon said the suspects would be handed over to the State Security Services in Imo State for further investigation and possible prosecution.