A 27-year-old man has been arrested in Lagos for impersonating a Nigerian Air Force soldier and defrauding multiple residents of money and goods.
Kolawole Yusuf was handed over to police by the Provost Unit of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre on Monday, after several victims identified him. He had previously been rescued from a mob by policemen at Bakassi Line on February 18.
Dressed in a full Nigerian Air Force special forces uniform, Yusuf claimed he was attached to the O55 NAF Base in Victoria Island, prompting authorities to involve the military. According to Commander Patricia Ochei, the suspect had long used the uniform and other accoutrements to commit fraud, particularly at Arena Market, Ladipo, Mushin Market, Aswani, and Alaba International Market.
Investigators said Yusuf defrauded Point of Sale operators of money via fake alerts, took a television worth over N300,000 from a dealer, and obtained shock absorbers valued at N145,000 without payment. He has been on the wanted list of both the police and the Nigerian Armed Forces for multiple fraud cases.
Military sources reported that Yusuf is part of a syndicate impersonating armed forces operatives, some members of which have already been apprehended. Victims recounted that he would vanish after collecting money, sometimes leaving his mobile number but failing to respond.
Yusuf admitted he was not a military personnel and said he purchased the uniform for N30,000 from a Sergeant Samuel at Iyana-Ipaja. He claimed he was initially recruited for guard duties at a party and was told he could wear the uniform while riding a commercial motorcycle to avoid arrest.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been defrauded to report to the nearest police station. Yusuf will be returned to police custody for further investigation and prosecution.
