By: Odeh Favour
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a suspect identified as Adewale Arojah, a prophet’s son, for allegedly impersonating a renowned cleric on Facebook and defrauding multiple victims of over N18 million under the guise of offering prayers and spiritual assistance.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Ababaseyi, the arrest was triggered by a formal complaint lodged on October 3, 2026, by Muyiwa Akogun, a cleric known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun”.
The command revealed that Akogun alerted law enforcement officers after members of the public repeatedly raised concerns over “fraudulent activities being perpetrated in his name through a duplicated Facebook profile”.
Reacting to the report, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ilaro Division immediately deployed operational tactics to track down the offender.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator,” the statement read.
Police authorities added that “through sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis, the suspect was tracked to a nearby village in Ajegunle, via the Ilaro/Ibogun axis, where he was successfully apprehended”.
Following his arrest, the suspect was subjected to interrogation, during which he reportedly confessed to the crime.
“During a rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to impersonating the real Prophet Akogun on Facebook,” police sources confirmed.
Providing further details on the fraudulent scheme, Ababaseyi stated, “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”.
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect systematically targeted people seeking spiritual help via the duplicated page.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gains their trust and swindled them of funds amounting to over N18 million,” the statement added.
The suspect has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Police stated that the ongoing investigation aims to ascertain the full extent of the crime, identify potential accomplices, and process the suspect for prosecution.
The command emphasized that the arrest aligns with its broader strategy to curb cybercrime across Ogun State.
“The swift arrest highlights the Ogun State Police Command’s resolve to dismantle online fraud networks, curb identity theft, and deny cybercriminals safe space to operate across the state,” Ababaseyi said.
Commending the team behind the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, praised the Ilaro operatives for their “vigilance, tactical discipline, and swift response”.
The CP further reaffirmed the command’s dedication to safeguarding residents from both digital and physical security threats.
In light of the incident, the police issued a public advisory cautioning social media users against unverified spiritual practitioners.
“The Command advises members of the public to exercise caution and due diligence when engaging with religious leaders or public figures on social media platforms,” the statement concluded.
