The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, Adetayo Akerele, has arrested three impostors who allegedly paraded themselves as officers of the Nigerian Navy to defraud members of the public and obstruct lawful government operations.
The arrest followed an incident connected to the demolition of illegal shanties and encroachments on government land at Oworonshoki, Lagos State.
According to a press statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeeyan Abdulraheem, the principal suspect—identified as Mr. James K. Robert based on the name tag on his uniform and entries in the visitor’s register—had visited the Chairman’s office seeking the release of vehicles removed from the demolition site.
The suspect, accompanied by his wife and an alleged orderly, claimed ownership of a car lot affected by the demolition and demanded preferential treatment in the “spirit of esprit de corps.” This was despite several statutory notices and repeated appeals issued to him to vacate the site prior to the demolition, which he allegedly ignored.
When the Chairman declined to compromise professional ethics and public service regulations, the suspect reportedly became aggressive and issued threats, claiming that his supposed men would confront Taskforce operatives.
Suspicion was heightened during a detailed interview conducted by CSP Akerele, who requested information about the suspect’s primary military assignment and command. Observations revealed multiple inconsistencies, including incorrectly worn service ribbons, the absence of required regimental insignia, and an overall appearance inconsistent with that of a senior naval officer.
The Chairman immediately contacted the Naval Police unit of the Nigerian Navy, which confirmed that the individual was not a serving officer. The confirmation led to the prompt arrest of the suspect and his accomplices.
CSP Akerele disclosed that the suspects had already been under surveillance following repeated altercations with Taskforce officers during field operations, as well as complaints from residents about a man posing as a Navy Captain to intimidate and coerce them under false pretences.
In a statement, the suspect’s wife reportedly admitted that she had repeatedly warned her husband to stop impersonating military personnel, remarking that “several days are for the thief, but one day is for the owner.”
The Chairman further revealed that his suspicions deepened when the alleged orderly and other accomplices tactically withdrew from the scene shortly before the arrest.
“Before the suspects could fully comprehend what was happening, officers of the Nigerian Navy Military Police were already on ground and took them into custody. They are currently undergoing further investigation,” CSP Akerele said.
He assured the public that the suspects would be prosecuted by the appropriate authorities, stressing that the arrest would serve as a strong deterrent to impersonators and criminals seeking to tarnish the image of the Police and Armed Forces.
“I urge members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to report suspicious activities through our official feedback channels for prompt action. No criminal will be allowed to find safe haven in Lagos State,” he added.
