The Nigerian Army has uncovered and apprehended a notorious impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, who falsely paraded himself as a retired Major General, misleading the public and abusing the prestige of the military institution.
In a statement released on 12 February 2026 by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the Army said preliminary investigations confirmed that Abdul Rauf was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army, never attained the rank of General, and never retired from the Service in any capacity.
Further findings revealed that the suspect fraudulently claimed to have attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and falsely asserted that he was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). The Army said all these claims have been conclusively established as false and fabricated.
According to the statement, the impostor consistently exploited these false credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians, including during court proceedings where he presented himself as a retired senior military officer to command undue respect, sympathy, and influence.
During interrogation, investigators recovered media reports from two nationally recognised newspapers in which Abdul Rauf was repeatedly described as a “retired Major General.” One such report by Premium Times identified him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit he instituted against the Lagos State Government and others, seeking ₦8 billion in damages.
Another report by Independent Newspaper dated 9 November 2020 similarly referred to him as a “retired major general” while detailing his appeal against the dismissal of the same suit, which the court had earlier described as a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.
The Nigerian Army categorically stated that no retired officer 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.
It condemned the act of impersonation as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of officers who have genuinely served the nation.
Reiterating its commitment to protecting the sanctity of its ranks, honours, and institutions, the Army said it will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure impostors and fraudsters are brought to justice. The public was urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report suspicious representations to security agencies.
The Army also warned law-abiding citizens of the dangers of impersonation and the unauthorised use of military uniforms and badges, stressing that offenders will face the full wrath of the law.
The Nigerian Army affirmed that it remains steadfast in upholding professionalism, integrity, and accountability in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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