The Lagos State Police have apprehended a man for allegedly posing as a police officer and duping commercial motorcyclists of a total sum of N670,000.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
Hundeyin revealed that the suspect was captured following reports of his fraudulent activities, wherein he purportedly fabricated fake Police ID Cards and distributed them to several motorcyclists, extorting amounts ranging from N50,000 to N70,000 from each victim.
The objective behind issuing these falsified cards was to serve as identification for ‘Police errand boys,’ offering them a means to pass through security checkpoints, especially Police checkpoints.
“It involves conspiracy, impersonation, obtaining money under false pretenses, and theft.
“We received information on Dec. 12 regarding one Michael Utsu and other accomplices who are currently at large.
“On Oct. 25, the suspect presented himself as a police officer attached to Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan Lagos, and collected passport photographs from commercial motorcyclists.
“He promised to produce a police plastic identity card, supposedly meant for police errand boys, using various police formations for the ID cards issued to the motorcyclists, collecting sums ranging from N50,000 to N70,000 for each ID card,” Hundeyin detailed.
The police spokesperson added that the suspect confessed to the offenses, admitting to distributing the printed cards to motorcyclists in Ojo, Okokomaiko, and Ajangbadi areas of Lagos while receiving payments from his victims.
Hundeyin affirmed that following the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect would face charges in court. (NAN)
