Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have taken into custody a man named Adewale Ogoemi Arojah, who is accused of posing as a cleric on Facebook and swindling unsuspecting victims out of more than N18 million by pretending to offer prayers and spiritual help.
The suspect was apprehended by personnel of the Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters after a cleric, Muyiwa Akogun, widely known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun,” lodged a complaint.
In a statement released on Thursday by the state police public relations officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, Akogun notified the police on October 3, 2026, after members of the public reported fraudulent activities allegedly being conducted in his name via a duplicate Facebook account.
After receiving the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer in Ilaro assigned intelligence and detective operatives to pursue and capture the suspect.
Babaseyi said, “Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator.
“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.
“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.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gained their trust, and swindled them of funds amounting to over N18m.”
The PPRO stated that the suspect had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, so that further investigation could establish the scope of the alleged crime, uncover any possible accomplices, and clarify the circumstances of the transactions.
Babaseyi noted that the arrest showed the command’s determination to break up online fraud networks, reduce identity theft, and stop cybercriminals from operating without restriction in the state.
In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the Ilaro operatives for their alertness, tactical discipline, and prompt response.
Ojajuni restated the command’s dedication to shielding residents from both digital and physical dangers.
The command cautioned members of the public to be careful when dealing with religious leaders and other public figures on social media, encouraging them to confirm that accounts are genuine before sending money or sharing personal details.
It further encouraged residents to report suspected cybercrime, impersonation, and other suspicious conduct via the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.
