Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a unit of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested two individuals for impersonating officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and exploiting accident victims.

The suspects, identified as Nuche Joseph, 34, and Lawal Rofiat, 29, were apprehended on April 29, while posing as LASAMBUS personnel.

According to RRS in a statement on Sunday, the duo were operating under the name of BrainGrace Ambulance Service, deceiving members of the public and demanding payments for emergency medical services that are supposed to be free.

Their illegal operation came to light after the relatives of an accident victim took to social media to express outrage over being charged N150,000 for pre-hospital care.

Tragically, the victim died before reaching the hospital. The relatives initially believed they were dealing with genuine LASAMBUS officials and accused the Lagos State Government of exploitation.

LASAMBUS is an agency of the state government that provides emergency medical services free of charge to accident victims across Lagos.

“The suspects, working with BrainGrace Ambulance service, have been impersonating Lagos Ambulance Service and fleecing accident victims of various sums of money for pre – hospital care which is rendered free of charge to accident victims in the state.

“The fraudulent activity of the suspects was exposed on social media by relatives of an accident victim who BrainGrace Ambulance forced to cough up N150,000:00 for pre-hospital care but the victim died before getting to the hospital.

“The relatives of the deceased, realizing the service was designed by Lagos State Government to be rendered free of charge, felt exploited. They took to social media to expose BrainGrace Ambulance erroneously claiming that they were defrauded by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) officials,” the statement read.

The RRS confirmed that both suspects have confessed to the crime and have been charged to court.

“The two suspects have made confessional statements to the police and have been charged to court,” the statement added.