Fake police inspector arrested in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a fake police Inspector, identified as Precious Joseph, over alleged impersonation.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said items recovered from the suspect included a police beret, police buttons and insignia, Inspector rank badges, PMF uniforms, and a military camouflage sweater.

Others included a lawyer’s wig, two pairs of desert boots, and security-related accoutrements suspected to have been used for impersonation and other unlawful activities.

“On Sunday, July 5, 2026, at about 2:30 pm, operatives of the Command, while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation along Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo, intercepted a motorcyclist riding a Top Way motorcycle without a registration number.

“The rider, later identified as Precious Joseph, an indigene of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State who resides in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, introduced himself as an Inspector of Police,” the statement said.

According to the statement, upon request to establish his identity, the suspect produced a police warrant card bearing the name of Inspector Daniel. However, his conduct and responses raised reasonable suspicion among the operatives, prompting a more thorough search.

The search led to the recovery of another official identity card belonging to the Nigerian Correctional Service, further strengthening suspicions that the suspect was fraudulently parading himself as security personnel.

The statement said Joseph led the police team to his residence in Ikot Ekpene, where the uniforms and other items were recovered.

It said the search resulted in the recovery of several items, including a police beret, police buttons and insignia, Inspector rank badges, 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 suspect is currently in police custody and undergoing intensive interrogation as investigators work 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 the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Azare, assured residents that the command would remain resolute in its commitment to identify and dismantle criminal networks and individuals who exploit the identities of security agencies to perpetrate crimes, deceive unsuspecting members of the public, and bring the image of the nation’s security institutions into disrepute.

The command warned members of the public against purchasing, possessing, or unlawfully wearing security uniforms, insignia, identity cards, or other restricted accoutrements, noting that such acts constitute serious criminal offences and will attract the full weight of the law.