By Bavoriat Clara
The Nigerian Army has uncovered and arrested a suspected impostor, Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf, for allegedly posing as a retired Major General and misleading the public.
In a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army said investigations confirmed that the suspect was never commissioned into the Nigerian Army and never attained the rank of General or retired from the service in any capacity. It also dismissed his claims of attending the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and being a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), describing them as entirely false.
According to the Army, the suspect consistently used the fabricated credentials to intimidate unsuspecting civilians, including during court proceedings where he allegedly presented himself as a retired senior officer to gain undue influence and sympathy.
The statement further revealed that some media reports had wrongly identified him as a retired Major General. One report by Premium Times described him as “Major General AbdulRauf Tijjani (rtd)” in a suit filed against the Lagos State Government seeking ₦8 billion in damages, while another by Independent Newspaper on November 9, 2020, referred to him as a retired Major General while reporting his appeal after the court dismissed the case as incompetent and an abuse of court process.
The Nigerian Army categorically stated that no retired officer bears the name Alhaji Tijjani Abdul Rauf and warned against impersonation and the unauthorized use of military uniforms and badges. It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding professionalism, integrity, and accountability, stressing that offenders would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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