By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Adewale Arojah over allegations that he impersonated a popular cleric on Facebook and used the fake identity to defraud several people of more than ₦18 million.
The arrest, announced by the police on Thursday, October 8, 2026, followed an investigation into complaints that an individual had created a duplicate Facebook profile bearing the identity of a renowned cleric and was using the account to communicate with members of the public.
According to the police, the alleged fraud involved people who were seeking prayers, spiritual assistance and religious guidance from the cleric whose identity was allegedly copied.
The suspect was reportedly tracked to a village in the Ajegunle area along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis of Ogun State after police detectives began investigating the complaint.
The development highlights the growing challenge posed by online impersonation in Nigeria, particularly where criminals exploit the identities of respected religious leaders, public figures, business owners and other personalities to gain the confidence of unsuspecting members of the public.
The case began after complaints were reportedly received from members of the public who had encountered suspicious activities involving a Facebook account allegedly operating under the name and identity of the cleric.
The cleric subsequently reported the matter to the police after becoming aware that his identity was being used to conduct activities that he said were not authorised by him.
The Ogun State Police Command then commenced an investigation through its Ilaro Division.
Rather than relying solely on traditional investigative methods, detectives reportedly used technological monitoring and intelligence analysis to trace the person behind the suspicious account.
The investigation eventually led officers to the Ajegunle area, where the suspect was arrested.
Police said the suspect admitted during interrogation that he had impersonated the cleric on Facebook.
Investigators allege that the suspect used the cleric's identity to offer fake prophecies and prayer services to people who believed they were communicating with the genuine religious figure.
The alleged victims were reportedly encouraged to make payments for different forms of spiritual assistance.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the activities resulted in the collection of more than ₦18 million from several victims.
The investigation is continuing, and police authorities said they are working to determine the full extent of the alleged operation.
Investigators are also expected to establish how many people may have been affected, whether other individuals participated in the scheme and how the money allegedly obtained from victims was received and moved.
The case demonstrates how social media impersonation can become a serious criminal problem when a fraudulent account is made to appear sufficiently authentic to convince unsuspecting users.
Facebook and other social-media platforms have become important communication channels for religious leaders in Nigeria.
Many churches and individual clerics maintain official accounts through which they publish sermons, prayer programmes, announcements, counselling information and other religious content.
These accounts can attract large audiences, including people living outside Nigeria.
That international reach can also create opportunities for criminals who want to exploit the reputation of well-known personalities.
A person looking for spiritual assistance may not always know how to distinguish an authentic account from an imitation, particularly when the fake account uses the same name, photographs, religious language and other publicly available information associated with the genuine personality.
Fraudsters can use such information to create an appearance of legitimacy.
Once trust has been established, the victim may be persuaded to transfer money for prayers, special spiritual consultations, charitable assistance, religious materials or other purported services.
The Ogun case illustrates the financial consequences that can result from such schemes.
The amount involved in the case is more than ₦18 million, according to the police account, suggesting that the alleged activity was not limited to a single victim or isolated transaction.
The police said the suspect allegedly targeted people who were seeking spiritual assistance through the genuine cleric's online presence.
Such victims may include people facing personal, financial, family or health difficulties who believe that they are communicating directly with a trusted religious figure.
The emotional nature of such interactions can make victims particularly vulnerable to manipulation.
Criminal investigators therefore face the additional challenge of identifying people who may have been defrauded but are reluctant to report the incidents.
Some victims may feel embarrassed after discovering that they were communicating with an impersonator.
Others may initially believe that the payment was legitimate or may not realise that the social-media account was fraudulent.
Law-enforcement authorities have increasingly warned Nigerians to verify online identities before transferring money or providing sensitive personal information.
The Ogun Police Command has also urged members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with religious leaders and public figures through social-media platforms.
The warning is particularly important because criminals can now obtain photographs, names, telephone numbers, videos and other publicly available information from legitimate social-media accounts and use those materials to construct convincing fraudulent identities.
The use of technology in the Ogun investigation also demonstrates the changing nature of police work.
Traditional investigations often depend on physical evidence, eyewitness accounts and direct questioning.
Online fraud investigations require additional capabilities, including digital tracing, examination of electronic communications, analysis of social-media activity and investigation of financial transactions.
The police said sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis helped investigators track the suspect in this case.
That approach could become increasingly important as more criminal activities move into digital spaces.
Nigeria's rapidly expanding digital economy has created enormous opportunities for legitimate businesses, communication and financial services.
At the same time, the growth of online transactions has created new opportunities for criminals.
Social-media fraud, identity theft, fake investment schemes, romance scams, employment scams and fraudulent online sales are among the forms of deception that can be facilitated through digital platforms.
Religious impersonation adds another dimension because it exploits personal faith and trust.
For religious organisations and public figures, protecting their online identities is therefore becoming increasingly important.
Official accounts should be clearly identified, and followers should be regularly warned about fake profiles.
Where financial contributions or payments are involved, organisations can also publish verified payment channels and discourage followers from sending money to private accounts presented through unofficial social-media messages.
Members of the public also have an important role to play.
Before responding to a request for money from a religious leader or public personality, users should independently verify the account and confirm the request through another trusted communication channel.
A social-media profile that appears genuine should not automatically be considered authentic.
Users should also be cautious when an online contact creates urgency, demands secrecy or requests payment into an unfamiliar personal account.
The police investigation into the Ogun case will now focus on establishing the complete structure of the alleged operation.
Investigators are expected to examine the suspect's electronic devices and other available evidence as they seek to identify possible victims and determine whether additional individuals were involved.
The State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, has taken over the investigation.
The police have said the suspect will be processed in accordance with the law after investigators complete the necessary inquiries.
It is important to stress that the suspect remains an alleged offender at this stage. The allegations against him must be established through due legal process, and any prosecution will provide an opportunity for the evidence to be tested before a competent court.
The case nevertheless provides another warning about the risks associated with online identity theft.
As Nigerians increasingly rely on social media for communication, business, religious activities and access to public figures, criminals can exploit the same platforms to imitate trusted personalities.
The Ogun Police Command's intervention shows the importance of reporting suspicious online activities quickly.
Early reporting can help investigators preserve digital evidence, trace suspects and potentially identify other victims before further losses occur.
The incident also reinforces the need for social-media users to distinguish between communication and authentication.
Seeing a familiar photograph or name online does not necessarily prove that the person behind the account is genuine.
For religious communities in particular, the case serves as a reminder that requests for money or personal information should be independently verified, even when they appear to come from a respected cleric.
As the Ogun investigation continues, authorities are expected to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud and determine whether other people were connected to the operation.
For now, the arrest has placed renewed attention on the growing problem of digital impersonation and the need for stronger public awareness as criminal networks increasingly exploit social-media platforms.
The case demonstrates that protecting Nigerians from crime now requires attention not only to physical spaces but also to the rapidly expanding digital environment where trust, identity and money can be manipulated with a few online interactions.