Lagos Task Force Arrests Impostor, Bike Thief

Rebecca Ejifoma

Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested a 33-year-old suspected serial impostor and motorcycle thief, Elias Marcus.

He was said to specialise in snatching motorcycles and impersonating officers of the agency with his camouflage trousers and wallet.

He used the impersonation to dispose  unsuspecting bike (okada) riders of their bikes and valuables in different parts of the State.

Marcus, who is a father of one, was arrested   while he was trying to carry out his usual act of impersonating an official and stealing the bike of a rider.

According to the 19 years old victim, Yahaya Usman, the suspect flagged down his  bike around Mafoluku and  asked him to take him to the inner parts of Oshodi.

On getting to the destination, the suspect was said to have asked the rider to divert to a different location where he pushed him off the bike and sped off with it.

“We got to our destination and before I knew what was happening, I found myself on the ground after the suspect pushed me. I knew he wanted to steal the bike.

“He rode off with the bike and I chased him till I caught up with him. I struggled with him till officers of the Taskforce came to my rescue and arrested him,” Yahaya narrated.

While the suspect was said to have confessed to being into the illicit trade of impersonating military and paramilitary officers, he admitted that it gives him free access on the roads and also some privileges across the country.

He added: “I’ve always wanted to be a force man but when I could not become one I decided to impersonate.

“It gives me clearance and commands respect for me in some instances that’s why I delved into the business of stealing under false pretense. My wife does not know I am into such a business.”

Speaking on the incident at the Headquarters of The Lagos State Taskforce, the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, said that he had given his officers express directives to arrest and prosecute anyone masquerading as officials and tarnishing the image of the agency.

“We have made a series of arrests in months because the reports of fake Task Force personnel we receive is worrisome,” says the CSP.

According to Jajeloye, they will carry on with this mop-up exercise till every single fake official is arrested and taken to court. This will serve as a deterrent to others who might be nursing the idea of impersonation”, Jejeloye stated.

The suspected impostor has been charged to court accordingly. Although he pleaded not guilty, the case was adjourned to May 26 this year. He is being remanded at the Badagry Correctional Centre.