The information was disclosed by the Army Public Relations Officer, PRO, in charge of 13 Brigade, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Capt. Kayode Owolabi, Daily Post reports.
Punch reported that the officer was kidnapped on Thursday, November 10, after stepping out of a commercial bank along Calabar road, in the state.
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The PRO insists that there was no case of kidnap, even as he had revealed that he was unaware of any such case when he was contacted on the issue last week.
Meanwhile, Daily Post reports that Lawal is alleged to have arranged to be abducted, allowing him to make an illegal move from the state to Port Harcourt.
Owolabi revealed that Lawal is presently in the custody of the army after he was found at his girlfriend's apartment in Eket, Akwa Ibom state by security operatives following some investigation into the case.
He said, “Nothing like that ever took place. It is all rumour because it is not possible to abduct someone in Calabar without attracting public attention in the broad daylight, let alone a soldier who is fully dressed.
“You must get a pass before you are allowed to travel. Whatever they are saying is not true. The man is with us.
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“He was picked up in his girlfriend’s house in Eket and he is presently being detained in one of the barracks in Calabar. He has confessed that he was not actually kidnapped,” the PRO was quoted to have said.
Lawal is presently in army custody and will be punished accordingly for his crime that is akin to desertion.
