The Nigerian Police Force in Lagos State has apprehended a man who has been masquerading as a police inspector under the command. The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, was arrested while operating an unregistered motorcycle as commercial transport around the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Confirming the incident to journalists on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the suspect had no fixed police formation and had been using an illegitimate identity card.
According to Hundeyin, a patrol team had flagged down the suspect on Sunday at about 10:22 pm on the suspicion that he was impersonating a police officer. Upon questioning, the suspect could not provide any valid means of identification. It was discovered that the identity card he possessed was not genuine.
The police spokesperson further stated that the suspect had been taken into custody, and his unregistered motorcycle confiscated. The items will be transferred to the Taskforce, and the impersonator will be charged to court for impersonation.
Impersonation of law enforcement agents in Nigeria is a criminal offense. The country’s criminal law code defines impersonation as a wrongful act committed by individuals who intentionally assume the identity of others, especially those holding sensitive positions in society, with the view to perpetrating fraudulent activities.
The Lagos State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Hakeem Odumosu, has advised Lagosians to be cautious and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or call the command’s emergency line on 112 and 767.
