The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspected serial fraudster who allegedly posed as a senior military officer and duped unsuspecting victims out of more than ₦1.37 million in a fake employment scheme.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Ondo State Police Command and signed by its spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olushola, the suspect — identified as Abdullahi Saliu — was apprehended at Top Quality Hotel in Ondo State, where he had been parading himself as a colonel in the Nigerian Army.
According to the statement titled “Ondo Police Command Arrest Fake Army Colonel Over ₦1.37m Employment Scam”, Saliu allegedly lured two women — Oshoade Janet and Daisi Remilekun Joy — by promising to secure jobs for their sons in the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service.
“He deceitfully obtained the sum of One Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand Naira (₦1,377,000) from the victims, which he subsequently converted to his personal use,” the statement read.
Police investigations revealed that Saliu had a long history of impersonation and job racketeering across multiple states, including Edo State, Delta State, Kogi State, and Ondo State.
“He has long been on the command’s watch list as a notorious job racketeer, known for impersonating senior officers of various security agencies, including the army, navy, immigration, and customs, to defraud unsuspecting citizens of their hard-earned money,” Olushola added.
The suspect has since been arraigned before Magistrate Court 1 in Ondo State to face prosecution.
The police described the arrest as part of an intensified crackdown on fraud and impersonation in the state.
“This feat represents one of several cases successfully cracked by the Ondo State Police Command in recent times,” the statement noted, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
“The command seizes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the lives, property, and interests of all residents, while ensuring that fraudsters and criminally minded elements are brought to justice,” DSP Olushola said, commending the support of the command’s leadership and the Nigeria Police Force Inspector-General.
