Nigerian Army Apprehends Notorious Impostor Posing as Retired Major General
The Nigerian Army has successfully arrested a notorious impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, who has been fraudulently parading himself as a retired Major General. This significant development was disclosed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, in an official statement released on February 12, 2026.
False Claims and Fabricated Credentials
According to the statement, preliminary investigations have conclusively confirmed that Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army at any point in time. Furthermore, he never attained the rank of General or retired from the Service in any capacity. The impostor went to great lengths to fabricate his background, falsely claiming attendance at the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.
In addition to these fraudulent assertions, he also pretended to be a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). All these claims have been thoroughly investigated and confirmed to be entirely false and fabricated, designed solely to deceive the public and exploit the reputation of the military institution.
Exploitation and Intimidation Tactics
The impostor was found to have consistently exploited these false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians. This included during court proceedings where he presented himself as a retired senior military officer to command undue respect, sympathy, and influence. One notable instance involved a suit instituted against the Lagos State Government and other respondents, in which he sought N8 billion in damages.
During interrogation, media reports published in two nationally recognized newspapers were recovered. These reports repeatedly referred to the impostor as a "retired Major General," demonstrating the extent to which he sustained his deception within the public space. For example, a report by Premium Times falsely identified him as "Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)," while another by the Independent Newspaper dated November 9, 2020, also referred to him as a "retired major general" while detailing his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit.
Army's Firm Stance and Public Warning
The Nigerian Army has categorically stated that no retired officer of the Nigerian Army bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, nor has any officer with such identity ever held the rank of Major General or above within the Service. The Army strongly condemns this act of impersonation, which constitutes a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation with distinction.
In light of this incident, the Nigerian Army reiterates its commitment to protecting the sanctity of its ranks, honours, and institutions. It will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice. Members of the public are urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report any suspicious representations to security agencies.
Law-abiding citizens are warned about the dangers of impersonation or the use of military uniforms and badges by unauthorized persons. The Army has made it clear that it will not hesitate to subject any individual engaged in such acts to the full wrath of the law. The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in upholding professionalism, integrity, and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
