The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man, Adewale Arojah, for allegedly impersonating a religious leader on Facebook and defrauding unsuspecting victims of more than N18 million.
The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Ilaro Division of the Ogun State Police Command following a complaint over a fake Facebook account allegedly created using the identity of Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta.
According to the police, Akogun reported that members of the public had raised concerns about fraudulent activities linked to a duplicated Facebook account bearing his name and identity.
Suspect allegedly offered fake spiritual services
Babaseyi said preliminary investigations indicated that Arojah, who was allegedly familiar with the cleric, used the copied social media identity to attract people seeking spiritual assistance.
The suspect allegedly presented himself as the prophet, offering fake prophecies and prayer-related services to victims through the fraudulent account.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed during interrogation to impersonating Akogun and using his identity to offer fake prophecies and prayer services to unsuspecting victims,” the police spokesperson said.
The command said investigations so far showed that victims in Nigeria and abroad allegedly lost more than N18 million through the scheme.
Police begin wider investigation
Following intelligence gathering and digital tracking, detectives traced the suspect to a village in Ajegunle, along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, where he was arrested.
The suspect has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Police said the ongoing probe would determine the full extent of the alleged offences and establish whether other individuals were involved.
Police warn against online impersonation scams
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers involved in the investigation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, identity theft and online fraud.
He advised members of the public to verify social media accounts belonging to religious leaders, public figures and organisations before engaging with them.
The police also warned citizens against sending money to unverified individuals offering spiritual solutions, investment opportunities or other services online.
Residents were encouraged to report suspicious online activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line (0800 000 9111) or the police contact numbers 09164859299 and 09154293464.
