Police arrest fake retired US military officer in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command said it had arrested a man, simply identified as Falade, for allegedly parading himself as a retired United States military officer, but later discovered to be untrue.

The command also alleged that Falade and some of his followers had recently caused unrest at the Idogun community in Ose Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on the development while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilfred Afolabi, said the suspect was arrested and had been prosecuted in court, while the court had remanded him at a correctional centre in Akure.

The CP said, “A report was made to this office of the activities of one Falade, who claimed to be a retired Navy Captain who served in the American military. For years now, Falade has been a terror in the Idogun Community, under the Ose Local Government. When this matter was brought to my attention, I called him with the intention of inviting him over to my office to give his own side of the story.

“What I received in response were unprintable words. Even at that height of provocation, I remained calm. Even when the matter was given to one of our tactical commanders to look into, when he invited him over, he called him stupid. That notwithstanding, I called for a peace meeting that took place in the police mess, which he attended. The chairman of Ose LG and other stakeholders from their community were there. All of them were enjoined to go back and maintain peace.  Unfortunately, when he returned, instead of de-escalating tension, he escalated it.

“Now, this Falade in question goes about with fake, fake passport and fake airforce personnel, who also joined him in perpetrating his nefarious activities. Just last week, a report came that some of the boys on the side of Falade, led by the same Falade, abducted some of the people going to the farm, confiscated their properties, went away with it, and I said I’ve had enough.”

The police boss further explained that after Falade was arrested by his team, he was charged in court and later remanded into prison custody, but stated that after his arrest, another riot broke out again by his supporters.

“So, the SWAT team moved in and apprehended Falade, brought him to Akure, started an investigation, and in the course of the investigation, he was found criminally liable, and there were 10 count charges against him, and he was prosecuted accordingly.

“When the matter got to court, he was remanded at a correctional center, and the moment the people in the community heard this, they went riotous, made bonfire, cut a very big tree across the road, so we had to move in more  men to go to that place. Now, in the course of trying to restore peace, one of our officers was given a machete cut on his head. But the area was later calmed by the policemen deployed in the town,” he stated.

Afolabi urged state residents to always employ lawful means to address any challenges in their communities rather than resorting to violence or illegalities.