The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested three suspected fake naval officers, including a man posing as a Captain, identified as James K. Robert, over an incident linked to the demolition of illegal shanties and encroachments on government land at Oworonshoki, Lagos
The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this on Thursday at the agency’s Oshodi–Bolade office, saying the suspects had been unlawfully parading themselves as officers of the Nigerian Navy to defraud members of the public and obstruct lawful government operations.
According to Akerele, the suspects were apprehended following their involvement in activities surrounding the demolition exercise at Oworonshoki, where they allegedly used fake military identities to intimidate residents, evade enforcement, and secure undue advantages.
He explained that the principal suspect, Robert, whose name appeared on his uniform name tag and in the visitor’s register at the Taskforce office, had earlier visited the office to seek the release of vehicles removed from the demolition site by enforcement officers.
This, Akerele said, was despite the fact that several statutory notices and repeated appeals had been issued to Robert to vacate the property ahead of the demolition, all of which he allegedly ignored.
“The suspect, accompanied by his wife and an alleged orderly, claimed ownership of the car lot at the demolition site and demanded that it be spared in the ‘spirit of esprit de corps,’” Akerele said.
He added that when the request was declined in line with professional ethics and public service regulations, the suspect became aggressive and allegedly threatened a confrontation between his supposed men and Taskforce operatives.
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