I’ve been arrested seven times for impersonation-Fake policeman

Mr. Gregory Anyasodo, 47, has described himself to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, as a serial impersonator of police.

Anyasodo, who was arrested on Thursday after allegedly stealing N125, 000 from a trader in Oshodi, confessed to have been arrested six times at Owerri, Imo State, for his latest arrest at Oshodi.

His words: “I have been arrested six times in Owerri for impersonation. I have impersonated WAEC and JAMB officials. I have been arrested thrice by Shell Camp police, Owerri for impersonation.”

According to him, he came to Lagos in December 2016, before Christmas, in preparation for The Lord’s Chosen convention in Lagos, which was held in February, 2017 at Ijesha.
The suspect, a father of six children, said: “My arriving Lagos early for the programme was for me to seize that opportunity to look for job in Lagos. When I couldn’t get a job, I ventured into impersonating the police.”

Anyasodo’s latest victim, Mrs Emmanuella Joseph, on Thursday, ran to RRS officials stationed at Oshodi, complaining that the suspect threatened to arrest her and later confiscated her hand bag containing N125,000.

The police said: “A search around the area led to the arrest of Anyasodo and the recovery of a radio that appeared like a walkie – talkie. A Police Identity card, which portrayed him as an Inspector with the number 14873, attached to Lagos Taskforce and Special Anti-Robbery Squad was also found on him. We have also arrested the graphic artist who designed the Police Identity Card for him and the owner of the business centre.”

Anyasodo admitted collecting the complainant’s handbag, but denied stealing her money.
He further said: “I left my wife with six children when I was coming to Lagos. I have been sleeping in hotels since I got to Lagos. Occasionally, people allow me to sleep on the balconies and corridors of their house after I had convinced them that am a stranger. I make between N10,000 to N15, 000 daily parading myself as police officer and extorting innocent people.
“What I do is move closer to the victims and tell them, mostly traders. I show them my identity card and I threatened to invite my colleagues if they failed to settle me. I collect the money and I move away. I am sorry; I have not sent a dime to my wife in Owerri to take care of the six children I left in her possession. But occasionally, I call her. I thought of impersonating police because it would fetch me more money.”