The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man, Adewale Ogoemi Arojah, for allegedly impersonating a cleric on Facebook and defrauding victims of over N18m 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.”
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying Akogun reported the incident on October 3, 2026, after members of the public complained about fraudulent activities allegedly carried out through a duplicate Facebook account bearing his identity.
Following the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer in Ilaro deployed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the suspect.
Babaseyi said the suspect was eventually arrested in a village in Ajegunle, along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, through intelligence gathering and technological monitoring.
He said, “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.”
The police spokesperson added that preliminary investigations showed that the suspect allegedly targeted people seeking spiritual assistance on the cleric’s Facebook page, gained their trust and defrauded them of more than N18m.
According to him, the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
He said the investigation would establish the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify possible accomplices and determine the circumstances surrounding the transactions.
Babaseyi said the arrest underscored the command’s commitment to tackling online fraud, identity theft and other cybercrimes 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 against digital and physical threats.
The police also urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with religious leaders and other public figures on social media, advising them to verify the authenticity of accounts before making payments or sharing personal information.
Residents were further encouraged to report suspected cybercrime, impersonation and other suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.