The Nigerian Navy and the police in Lagos have uncovered a tailoring workshop on Victoria Island, where Navy uniforms, ranks and insignia are sewn. They arrested a 21-year-old tailoring apprentice, Hassan Taiwo.
The discovery was made during a joint raid which was carried out at the Federal College of Fishery and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, as a result of the reported crisis between some students of the college and Naval personnel which left one person dead last week.
The raid also led to the arrest of 63 other persons.
PUNCH Metro learnt that following the clash, Commander, NNS Beecroft, Cdre Chris Ezekobe, and the police set up a committee to look into the cause of the crisis, which eventually led to the joint raid that was carried out last Saturday.
While briefing journalists on the arrest, Ezekobe said, "We rounded up about 54 illegal occupants living in the school. We also ran into some students that were kitted in Navy uniforms leaving the premises about 4.30am.
"The truth is that most of these individuals operate under a platform known as Merchant Navy and in the past they have impersonated the Nigerian Navy. We thought it wise to raid these miscreants because they have Navy identity cards and also put on the paraphernalia of the Nigerian Navy.
"These young men you see pay themselves N8,000 to register and get themselves ID cards."
The Divisional Police Officer, Victoria Island, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, explained that out of the 54 persons arrested, 31 had been released. He said those released were identified by the management of the Federal College of Fishery and Marine Technology as students.
"Some of them are students who came in for carry-over courses, some have extra years, while others were identified as genuine students of the institution," he said.
Taiwo, who was arrested in the tailoring workshop, said, "I have nothing to do with the production of the uniforms. I am only an apprentice. I came in on April 4, 2013 to learn tailoring. I have never sewn any of these uniforms. My boss did. After sewing, some uniformed men usually pick them. I don't know who they are and I also don't know how much they pay for them. I was only arrested because I slept in the shop on the day of the raid."
Five of the suspects identified as Adom Godwin, Tijani Hassan,Edward Ite, James Agoju and Omorupa Rose, were arrested inside a Caravella GL bus with plate number KSF 757 XD at about 4.30am.
They claimed they were going for a relative's wedding in Akwa Ibom when they were arrested.
However, when the vehicle was searched, some swords and navy uniforms were found.
Recovered at the tailoring workshop were Navy stickers, identity cards, badges, uniforms, navy shoes, Army and navy ranks, sewing machines and ID cards bearing professional body of seafarers.
