A 34-year-old man who has been parading himself as an officer of the Nigeria Airforce, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly beating up a policewoman who was controlling traffic in the Egbeda area of the state.
The fake officer who identified himself as Squadron Leader Lucky Onofua, reportedly got angry after the policewoman, a Sergeant, stopped his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), at an intersection, so that other motorists coming from another part could drive through, and got out of his vehicle and began flogging the lady.
The female officer who was said to be surprised at the action of the man, held onto his clothes, demanding to know why he flogged her.
When he managed to get himself free from her grips, the impersonator got into his car and attempted to drive off and in the process, hit the policewoman who sprawled on the road and refused to get up.
It was gathered that after the sergeant was rescued by some passersby, a distress call put to the Shasha Police Division and when the policemen got to the scene, Onofua, an indigene of Irrua-Central Local Government Area of Edo State, was asked to identify himself, but he insisted that he was an air force officer.
He was then to the police station where a call was put across to the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force in Ikeja, to ascertain his claim.
Two Wing Commanders of the Nigerian Air Force were said to have gone to the division to verify Onofua’s identity, and they discovered Onofua to be an impostor.
A police source narrated that policemen at the Shasha Division had invited Onofua, who was believed to be a Nigerian Air Force officer, to settle the matter amicably, only to find out he was a fake officer.
“The Divisional Police Officer asked the suspect to come in so that they could talk like gentlemen. The DPO asked him to identify himself and he said he had forgotten his ID card at home.
The DPO then secretly called an Air Commodore to verify the man’s claim. Two Wing Commanders from the Air Force base at PWD were thereafter sent to the division. That was how Onofua’s bubble burst and he was arrested.”
Owning up to his deception, Onofua reportedly confessed that he had wanted to become an Air Force officer and that he had some friends in the force.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Supol Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Onofua’s arrest, adding that investigation was ongoing on the matter.
“The suspect will be charged to court for serious assault and impersonation. He allegedly hit the sergeant with his vehicle, and came down to whip the policewoman all over.
The Nigerian Air Force authorities were invited and we discovered that the man was an impostor. We are currently investigating the matter.”
