Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Ogun State Police Command, have rescued a man posing as a soldier, identified as Robinson Godday, from an angry mob in the Olomore area of Abeokuta.
It was reported that Godday allegedly snatched two mobile phones from a young man and, while attempting to flee, was caught by a large crowd. The youths then assaulted him and recovered the stolen phones, returning them to their rightful owner.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the intervention followed a distress call alerting operatives that a man dressed in full military green camouflage uniform was surrounded by a crowd and “on the verge of being lynched.”
She noted that the officers swiftly arrived at the scene, and “upon sighting the operatives, the mob immediately dispersed, allowing safe rescue of the suspect.”
Odutola added that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to stealing the military uniform from a soldier serving at the Ojo Military Barracks, Lagos, who is “currently deployed on operations in the North-East.”
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She said, “He was subsequently assaulted by the irate youths and sustained an injury on his right leg. The stolen phones were recovered by the mob and returned to the rightful owner.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was not a military officer, admitting that he had stolen the military uniform from a soldier serving at the Ojo Military Barracks, Lagos, who is currently deployed on operations in the North-East.
“The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue to unravel the full extent of his activities and identify possible accomplices.”
Odutola urged the public to refrain from enforcing the law on their own, cautioning that mob action is illegal and “puts innocent lives in grave danger.” She further stated that any suspect apprehended should be handed over to the nearest police station for proper investigation and prosecution.
