By Chigozie Dennis
A brazen impersonation plot unravelled in Calabar last week as the Nigerian Navy transferred two suspected military impostors to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution. The suspects were arrested by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY after allegedly parading themselves as naval officers.
The suspects, identified as David Novert Aleji and Francis Gideon Isaac, were apprehended on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, during a routine security operation. Naval authorities said the duo were dressed in military camouflage and found with counterfeit military identification cards at the time of their arrest.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Aleji allegedly presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Navy, while Isaac reportedly posed as a Midshipman. Both men allegedly claimed they were serving personnel aboard Nigerian Navy Ship SAGBAMA, a claim investigators later discovered to be false.
Naval officials said the discovery raised suspicion among security personnel who subsequently subjected the suspects to questioning and further checks. The inconsistencies in their claims triggered a deeper investigation by the naval unit.
Following the interrogation, a search was conducted at the suspects’ residence, where additional military-style items were recovered. Among the items reportedly found were a jungle hat and a pair of military boots believed to have been used to reinforce their false identities.
Investigators further uncovered that Aleji was allegedly the mastermind behind the impersonation scheme. He was said to have had prior exposure to maritime training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria located in Oron, which may have enabled him to convincingly mimic naval personnel.
Authorities also revealed that Aleji allegedly recruited Isaac, who lived with him at his father’s residence. The arrangement, according to investigators, provided a base from which the duo operated their impersonation activities.
During questioning, the suspects reportedly admitted that the camouflage vest, jungle hat and boots were purchased from civilian sources. They also allegedly confessed that the fake military identity cards used in the operation were produced by them.
The Nigerian Navy maintained that the arrest underscores its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the armed forces and preventing criminal elements from exploiting military identity for unlawful purposes.
In line with established procedures, the suspects were formally handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Calabar for further investigation and possible prosecution. Authorities say the case will proceed in accordance with the law.