Police arrest man over alleged N18m Facebook scam

Police officers. Photo: TheCable

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a man, Adewale Ogoemi Arojah, for allegedly impersonating a cleric on Facebook and defrauding unsuspecting victims of over N18 million under the guise of offering prayers and spiritual assistance.

The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters following a complaint by a cleric, Muyiwa Akogun, popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun.”

According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, on Thursday, Akogun alerted the police on October 3, 2026, after members of the public complained about fraudulent activities allegedly being carried out in his name through a duplicate Facebook account.

Following the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro, deployed intelligence and detective operatives to track down and apprehend the suspect.

Babaseyi said, “Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator.

“Through sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis, the suspect was tracked to a nearby village in Ajegunle, via the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, where he was successfully apprehended.

“During a rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to impersonating the real Prophet Akogun on Facebook. He admitted to using the cleric’s identity to deliver fake prophecies and offer prayer services to vulnerable individuals, thereby defrauding victims residing both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gained their trust and swindled them of funds amounting to over N18m.”

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The PPRO said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation to determine the extent of the alleged crime, identify possible accomplices and establish the circumstances surrounding the transactions.

Babaseyi said the arrest demonstrated the command’s resolve to dismantle online fraud networks, curb identity theft and prevent cybercriminals from operating freely in the state.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro operatives for their vigilance, tactical discipline and swift response.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents from digital and physical threats.

The command advised members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with religious leaders and other public figures on social media, urging them to verify the authenticity of accounts before making payments or sharing personal information.

It also urged residents to report suspected cybercrime, impersonation and other suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.