Police arrest suspected impersonator, recover security uniforms
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected security impersonator and recovered assorted security uniforms, insignia and official accoutrements allegedly used to deceive members of the public.
The command said the suspect was apprehended during a routine stop-and-search operation on Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo, on Sunday, 5 July 2026, at about 2:30 p.m.
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Etim Ekpimah
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected security impersonator and recovered assorted security uniforms, insignia and official accoutrements allegedly used to deceive members of the public.
The command said the suspect was apprehended during a routine stop-and-search operation on Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo, on Sunday, 5 July 2026, at about 2:30 p.m.
According to the Police, operatives intercepted a Top Way motorcycle without a registration number. The rider, identified as Precious Joseph, an indigene of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State residing in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, introduced himself as a Police Inspector.
When asked to verify his identity, the suspect produced a police warrant card bearing the name Inspector Daniel. However, his conduct and responses reportedly aroused the suspicion of the officers, prompting a more detailed search.
The police said the search led to the recovery of another official identity card belonging to the Nigerian Correctional Service, reinforcing suspicions that the suspect had been fraudulently presenting himself as a security operative.
Detectives subsequently accompanied the suspect to his residence in Ikot Ekpene, where they executed a search warrant.
Items recovered from the premises included: A police beret; police buttons and insignia; inspector rank badges; Police Mobile Force (PMF) uniforms; a military camouflage sweater; a lawyer’s wig; two pairs of desert boots; and other security-related accoutrements suspected to have been used in furtherance of impersonation and other unlawful activities.
The command said the suspect remains in police custody and is undergoing intensive interrogation.
Investigators are working to determine the source of the recovered items, establish the full extent of his activities, identify possible accomplices and ascertain whether he is linked to other criminal offences within or outside Akwa Ibom State.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Mohammed Azare, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, particularly individuals who exploit the identities of security agencies to perpetrate crimes, defraud unsuspecting members of the public or tarnish the image of Nigeria’s security institutions.
The police also warned members of the public against purchasing, possessing or unlawfully wearing security uniforms, insignia, identity cards or other restricted accoutrements, stressing that such offences would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, activities, or anyone falsely presenting themselves as a security operative to the nearest police station.
It added that public cooperation remains essential in the collective effort to combat crime and ensure the safety and security of residents across Akwa Ibom State.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, on behalf of the commissioner.
