Matilda Omonaiye/
Amid rising acts of impersonation, Lagos State commissioner of police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered Divisional Police Officers (DPO) and detectives to be on the lookout for civilians who parade themselves as security operatives in the state.
As he unmasked a fake police officer and soldiers today, Odumosu mentioned other cases where dismissed officers and civilians parade themselves as serving members or personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the military and security agencies, including the Lagos State-owned agencies, to perpetrate illegal acts in the state.
According to Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the CP has directed the DPOs, intelligence detectives and Heads of Departments in the command “to go after any impersonators and cause them to face the full wrath of the law as many Lagosians are being deceived by their conducts and antics. He also warned the general public to beware of such impersonators who are fond of impersonating the police, military or other security agencies at the detriment of our security system”.
He added: “The police chief further directs that every police personnel in the state must always possess police warrant card or identity card as a major means of identification, even on uniform, being a practice in the police.
“In the same vein, while matching his words with actions, the police boss directs the Deputy Commissioner of Police, CID Panti, Yaba, DCP Adegoke Fayoade, to immediately prosecute one Anya Okorie, 45, of House Number 7, Alabata Street, Ikotun, Lagos, that was recently arrested by the police operatives attached to Ketu Division and one Usman Ali, 21, of No 51, Ali Balogun Street, Ijora-Oloye, Lagos, who was arrested with the Nigerian Army Camouflage Vest by police operatives attached to Surulere Division. They have been charged to court for impersonation.
“The fake Inspector, Anya Okorie, was arrested on complete police uniform with the rank of Inspector of Police at Ketu while parading himself in a suspicious manner. Usman was arrested within the premises of Surulere Division when he and his accomplice, now at large, chased and attacked one Onyema, with a jack knife in the Division, putting on camouflage vests. The two suspects have since confessed to be fake police officer and army personnel respectively. In fact, Usman further confessed to be an Okada (commercial motorbike) operator.
“Items recovered from Okorie are two MOPOL Berets, two lanyards, two mobile police khaki trousers, three mobile T-shirts, Sgt. Rank and Mobile Squadron badges, while Army Camouflage vest and Jack knife were recovered from Usman.
“Usman Ali has been charged to Magistrate Court 3, Surulere on 17th February, 2021, while Okorie will be charged to court today, 18th February, 2021.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore assures the general public that the command will work with other security agencies in the state to fight acts of impersonation in order to sanitize the system and solidify the security platforms of Lagos State.”
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