I extort money from traffic offenders using N2, 000 fake walkie-talkie – Fake policeman

The Lagos state Police Command at the weekend, paraded a 45-year-old self acclaimed traffic policeman, Dele Oduwole, who had operated for two years in the Ketu area of the state.

While being paraded, he said he lost his job at the Agboyi Local Government secretariat, Lagos where he worked as an enforcement officer in the traffic unit about two years ago.

The suspect said he didn’t go to the extent of acquiring a police uniform in order not to draw too much attention, adding that he specified in arresting traffic offenders and extorting money from them.

Oduwoye told newsmen he preferred to operate with just a walkie-talkie rather than putting on a fake police uniform.

However, luck ran out on him recently after he and an accomplice had arrested a motorist at Ketu and impounded his vehicle before a suspicious policeman challenged them about their identities.

He said, “After losing my job at the Agboyi Local Government secretariat, I realised that I had become good at arresting traffic offenders. So, I simply continued my work by telling people that I was a policeman in mufti.

“I realised that people respect policemen when they are holding a walkie-talkie.

“A friend told me where I could get the radio cheaply and I went there. I bought the walkie-talkie for N2, 000 at Oshodi.

“The walkie-talkie does not even work. I swear it has never worked since I bought it. But for the period I used it, people obeyed me anytime I stopped a vehicle for any traffic offence.

“I was actually helping the government,” he added citing examples.

He said, “The man we arrested before we were arrested was actually making a call while driving. That is a crime.”

Oduwole claimed that he had not used his fake police identity to commit any other crime.

But the police have said investigations are ongoing to determine if he had been involved in more grievous crimes while parading himself as a policeman.

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