A man identified as Temigbe Adeola has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly posing as a serving soldier and defrauding a family of N1.2m, part of the retirement benefits of their matriarch.
Adeola, 35, was apprehended in Akure following intelligence that he had collected the funds from one Mr. Temiloluwa under the guise of helping the family recover money they had invested in property.
Police spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspect took advantage of the victim’s belief that he was a serving officer of the Nigerian Army.
According to the command, Adeola, acting in concert with other yet-to-be-identified collaborators, “deceitfully obtained the money and converted it to personal use.”
Further checks showed that the suspect had in fact been dismissed from the Army in 2023 after serving with the 82 Battalion in Enugu.
Ayanlade stated that Adeola has confessed to the crime and is currently in custody, adding that efforts are ongoing to track down his accomplices.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting citizens from fraudsters and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals to the nearest police station.
“The command, under the strategic guidance of the Inspector-General of Police, will continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations to ensure all persons involved in this case are brought to justice,” Ayanlade said.