In a shocking revelation that has raised serious concerns about public safety and accountability, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two individuals for operating a fraudulent ambulance service under the guise of the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).
The suspects, identified as 34-year-old Nuche Joseph and 29-year-old Lawal Rofiat, were caught impersonating government emergency officials and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public. They were apprehended on April 29, 2025, after a thorough investigation exposed their deceitful operations.
According to police reports, the duo operated under the name “BrainGrace Ambulance Service,” a private outfit that had no affiliation whatsoever with LASAMBUS or any official health institution in Lagos. Despite this, they reportedly dressed like government paramedics and used equipment that misled the public into believing they were part of the state’s free emergency response service.
Trouble started when the activities of BrainGrace Ambulance Service were exposed on social media by relatives of an accident victim. According to the family’s account, the fake ambulance team responded to an emergency and transported their loved one to the hospital. However, they demanded an outrageous sum of N150,000 for what should have been a free pre-hospital service. Despite the payment, the accident victim tragically died before receiving medical attention at the hospital.
The grieving family, feeling deceived and outraged, went online to vent their frustration. Initially, they accused LASAMBUS of the extortion, believing the officials who collected the money were part of the Lagos State emergency response team. Their post quickly gained attention, sparking public outrage and prompting the government to look into the matter.
Upon closer investigation, it became clear that the operatives were not staff of LASAMBUS, but rather impostors from BrainGrace Ambulance Service. The Lagos State Government responded swiftly, and the matter was transferred to the RRS, a special police squad known for its rapid and tactical responses to urban crime.
The two suspects were picked up by RRS operatives and taken in for questioning. During interrogation, both Joseph and Rofiat confessed to impersonating LASAMBUS officials. They admitted to exploiting the trust and urgency of accident scenes to charge grieving families and desperate victims exorbitant fees.
Authorities confirmed that their actions not only defrauded Lagosians but also undermined the credibility of legitimate emergency services in the state. “This kind of deception endangers lives and weakens public trust in government interventions,” a senior police officer said. “People need to know that LASAMBUS services are completely free, especially in the case of accidents and emergencies.”
Following their confession, the suspects were arraigned before a magistrate court where they faced charges of impersonation, fraud, and operating an unlicensed medical emergency service. The court ordered that they be remanded in custody pending the next hearing.
The Lagos State Government has since used the incident to remind residents that all official ambulance services provided through LASAMBUS are entirely free of charge. In the event of any emergency, Lagosians are urged to call the verified emergency numbers or use official state channels to seek help.
This incident has also renewed calls for stronger regulation and oversight of private ambulance operators in Lagos and across the country. With health emergencies being matters of life and death, critics say allowing unauthorized companies to operate with little supervision can lead to tragic consequences.
A health policy analyst who spoke to our correspondent emphasized the need for a public awareness campaign to educate Nigerians on the difference between government and private emergency services. “People must know what is free and what is not. The public should not fall prey to such criminals again,” she said.
Lagos State, the most populous city in Nigeria, has long battled with issues around emergency response due to traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and limited health resources. Over the years, the government has invested heavily in LASAMBUS to ensure that accident victims and other emergencies are promptly attended to without cost.
The service was designed to reduce fatalities caused by delays in medical attention. Paramedics are trained to stabilize victims at the scene of incidents and transport them safely to hospitals for further treatment. This pre-hospital care has saved thousands of lives since the inception of LASAMBUS.
However, cases like the BrainGrace Ambulance incident reveal a new layer of challenges—how criminal-minded individuals can exploit loopholes in public health systems to defraud and endanger lives. It also raises questions about how such private services obtain access to accident scenes and whether there are insider collaborators enabling their actions.
The Lagos State Ministry of Health has promised to work with law enforcement to ensure that no such incidents happen again. Officials say they are reviewing licensing requirements for private emergency services and will soon release a public database of verified ambulance operators.
Meanwhile, citizens are being urged to report any suspicious ambulance operators to the police or the Ministry of Health immediately. “We all have a role to play in keeping our system safe,” an official said.
With the case now in court and investigations still ongoing, many Nigerians are watching to see what penalties will be imposed on the suspects. For the family that lost their loved one, justice may not bring back the dead, but it might ensure others are not subjected to the same tragic fraud.
