A fake police officer who is said to have been terrorising unsuspecting members of the public in Surulere area of Lagos state has been arrested by the police in Lagos state.
Confirming the arrest of the fake police, who is said to have been using a walkie talkie to extort money from residents, the police spokesperson in the state, Olarinde Famous-Cole said his arrest followed intelligence report received by the police.
“The Lagos state police command on March16, 2017, arrested a suspected impersonator, who terrorises and parades himself as a police officer to unsuspecting members of the public in Surulere area of Lagos state.
“The command operatives attached to Area ‘C’ command through a reliable information in December 2016, where it was alleged that one Olayiwola Animashaun of no 34 Thomas Animashaun street, Aguda Surulere has over the years been parading himself as a police officer and extorting unsuspecting members of the public of their money and other valuables, was intercepted under the bridge of Surulere near the stadium, where he was about to resume his criminal activities.
“On sighting the patrol team the suspected impersonator took to his heels, but was given a hot chase that resulted to his arrest at Shitta area of Surulere. A walkie-talkie, a Lagos state ministry of transportation identity card bearing his name, Olayiwola Animashaun and his passport photograph were found in his possession,” the spokesperson said.
The suspect reportedly led the detectives to his house where exhibits like including a traffic taskforce reflective jacket, police statement forms, and a machete were recovered from his house
He was said to have confessed to having worked with Lagos state government but was currently without a job and his area operation was mostly on Tejuosho, Ojuelegba and National stadium.
Famous-Cole advised members of the public to be wary of some individuals who present themselves as government officials or police officers with no prove of official identification and should question or alert other security agencies when the need arise to suspect anybody.
The spokesperson said the suspect would be charged to court soon after investigation was completed.
