Fake Air force sergeant arrested over alleged POS fraud in Ibadan

Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected impostor accused of posing as a Nigerian Air Force officer to allegedly defraud a Point of Sale, POS, operator in Ibadan.

A post shared on X by security analyst, Zagazola Makama said the suspect, identified as Yusuf Abdullahi, was reportedly apprehended at Iwo Road area of Ibadan while allegedly dressed in military camouflage and pretending to be a serving sergeant in the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.

Sources told Makama that the arrest followed a complaint filed at the Iyaganku Police Division by a POS operator, Mrs Ayedun Abisola Adedoyin, who resides in the Oke-Padre area of Ibadan.

According to the complaint, the incident occurred on June 1 after the suspect allegedly visited Ogunpa Market where he bought some items, including a cooking gas regulator and air freshener, from a trader within the market.

“The suspect allegedly introduced himself as a sergeant in the Nigerian Air Force and convinced the complainant to hand over N150,000 in cash on the pretext that he would transfer the money electronically alongside payment for the items he had purchased.

“After collecting the cash and the items, he allegedly disappeared without making the promised transfer,” the source said.

Police sources said the suspect was later tracked and arrested on June 9 at about 1:40 p.m. while still wearing military camouflage.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect had allegedly been arrested previously by the same police division over a similar offence before he was handed over to the Nigerian Air Force Base in Akobo, Ibadan, for prosecution and disciplinary action.

During questioning, police detectives were said to have contacted a serving Nigerian Air Force officer, Flight Lieutenant Amuda, who is attached to the NAF Base in Akobo, Ibadan, but currently serving in Adamawa State.

The officer reportedly confirmed that the suspect was not a serving personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.

Police authorities stated that investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspect’s alleged activities and to ascertain whether other victims may have been defrauded through the same scheme.

The command advised residents to be vigilant when dealing with persons claiming to be security operatives.