Abuja, Nigeria – February 13, 2026 — The Nigerian Army has arrested Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, a man who has been parading himself as a retired Major General, after investigations revealed he had no record of ever being commissioned into the service or attaining any military rank.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anene, the Army described Rauf as an imposter who consistently exploited false military credentials to mislead the public, intimidate civilians, and gain undue influence, including in court proceedings.
The statement read in part:
“The Nigerian Army has uncovered and arrested Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, who parades himself as a retired Major General. Investigations have established that the suspect was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army and did not attain the rank of Major General or any other rank from the service.”
Further probes revealed that Rauf also falsely claimed to have attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and to be a recipient of the national honour, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). These fabricated credentials were allegedly used to project an image of authority and credibility.
According to the Army, Rauf’s deception extended to the public domain through media publications. Investigators recovered reports from two nationally recognised newspapers that repeatedly referred to him as “retired Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd).” In one instance, an online newspaper identified him as such in a lawsuit he instituted against the Lagos State Government and others, in which he sought ₦8 billion in damages. In another report, he was described as a Major General while appealing the dismissal of the same suit, which the court had earlier ruled was a gross abuse of court process and incompetent in law.
“The impostor was found to have 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,” the statement noted.
The Nigerian Army categorically declared that no retired officer in its records bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, nor has any individual with such identity ever held the rank of Major General or above. The service condemned the impersonation as a grave offence that undermines public trust and tarnishes the honour and integrity of genuine officers who have served the nation with distinction.
Lieutenant Colonel Anene reiterated the Army’s zero-tolerance stance on impersonation and misuse of military ranks, uniforms, or badges by unauthorised persons. She warned that the Army would continue to collaborate with relevant security agencies to apprehend and prosecute such individuals.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to verify claims of military status through appropriate channels and report any suspicious representations to security agencies,” she added. “The Nigerian Army will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute persons who engage in the impersonation or unauthorised use of military uniforms and badges in accordance with the law.”
The arrest of Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf comes amid a broader crackdown by the Nigerian military on individuals impersonating officers and exploiting the prestige of the armed forces for personal gain, fraud, intimidation, or influence peddling. Such cases have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly in legal disputes, land matters, and community conflicts where perpetrators seek to leverage perceived military authority.
The Nigerian Army has urged citizens to remain vigilant and to cross-check any claims of military affiliation directly with official military channels to avoid falling victim to fraudsters. Investigations into Rauf’s activities are ongoing, with the Army expected to provide further updates as the matter progresses through the legal system.
