Fake soldier arrested for defrauding family of retirement benefits
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Temigbe Jamiu Adeola, for allegedly impersonating Nigerian Army personnel and defrauding a family of ₦1.2 million.
The Command said the suspect posed as a serving soldier and collected the money from one Mr Temiloluwa, who believed he was helping to retrieve his late mother’s retirement benefits.
Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola said the suspect took advantage of the victim’s trust and diverted the entire amount with the help of accomplices still on the run.
According to the statement, Adeola confessed to the crime and admitted he had been dismissed from the Nigerian Army since 2023 after serving at the 82 Battalion in Enugu.
The PPRO added that the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing accomplices as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the fraud.
He said the suspect remains in custody and will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
The Command urged residents to be vigilant and report suspicious individuals, assuring that it will continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing across the state.
