Fake Air Force officer arrested in Lagos after years of alleged market scam

A 27-year-old man, Yusuf Abdullahi, has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly impersonating a serving officer of the Nigerian Air Force and defrauding traders across major markets in what authorities describe as a long-running scheme spanning more than three years.

Military officials said the suspect allegedly posed as an Air Force personnel, wearing military camouflage to gain the trust of unsuspecting traders before collecting goods and issuing fake bank transfer alerts as proof of payment. Investigators believe his activities cut across several commercial hubs in Lagos and remained undetected for years.

The alleged operation came to an end on February 18, 2026, when traders at Ladipo Market raised an alarm over a man in military attire who reportedly obtained goods without making valid payments. The suspect was restrained by traders before officers from the Ladipo Police Division intervened and took him into custody.

Confirming the arrest, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Commander Patricia Ochei, said Abdullahi claimed to be a serving Air Force member attached to 055 Camp, Lagos. This prompted the involvement of military police from NAFRC to verify his identity.

According to Ochei, checks conducted by the Air Force revealed that Abdullahi was neither a serving member nor a former personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.

“He is an impostor who deliberately exploited military identity to gain trust and defraud members of the public. This was his established modus operandi before his arrest,” she stated.

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Further investigations revealed that the vehicle used by the suspect was not a military vehicle but one assigned to him for commercial Uber operations. The car has since been recovered and is currently at the Ladipo Police Station.

Ochei disclosed that the suspect had previously appeared on security watchlists. Officers at the 651 Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, reportedly confirmed that his photograph had circulated among security units following similar incidents at Oshodi and Alaba International Market.

“Investigations indicate that his activities spanned more than three years, during which he allegedly defrauded traders at Trade Fair, Ladipo and Alaba markets using fake transfer alerts,” she said.

At least five victims have so far come forward to identify the suspect. Among them is an elderly woman who claimed she lost more than N300,000 to the alleged scam.

During interrogation, Abdullahi reportedly admitted obtaining the military camouflage from a friend. He claimed he was drawn into criminal activities in July while working as a commercial motorcyclist between Iyana-Ipaja and Oshodi.

“I started wearing the camouflage when a man called Sergeant Samuel gave me the uniform to work as security at a party. I was paid N35,000 for that job,” he was quoted as saying.

However, he reportedly failed to provide details about the whereabouts of the said Samuel or explain how he came into possession of the special forces uniform and dagger allegedly recovered from him at the time of his arrest.

Before being handed over to the police, Abdullahi was confronted by five individuals who claimed he had defrauded them in the past. He denied the allegations, insisting that network failures were responsible for unsuccessful transfers.

On efforts to apprehend other suspected accomplices, including the individual said to have supplied the camouflage, Commander Ochei reiterated the military’s zero-tolerance policy on impersonation.

“Investigations are ongoing. The Armed Forces will continue to work with the police, relevant stakeholders and members of the public to identify impostors and ensure they face the full weight of the law,” she said.