Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismantled a high‑profile criminal syndicate that specialised in tracking, harassing and extorting millions of naira from unsuspecting youths in the South‑East region while parading as genuine anti‑fraud operatives. In a video documentary released on Saturday, 30 May 2026, the Commission named the kingpin of the ring as Haruna Mamuda, a dismissed military personnel who had been falsely presenting himself as a senior EFCC officer, alongside his personal driver and accomplice, Salifu Mustafa. The footage shows the two men aggressively cornering, profiling and intimidating a group of young men during one of their illegal raids, using Mamuda’s residual military background, fake tactical gear and forged identity documents to instil terror and bypass security checks. The arrests, which followed a series of intelligence‑led operations that uncovered their hideouts, have been described by the EFCC as a decisive blow against a sophisticated blackmail ring that had operated with impunity for a considerable period.
The syndicate’s method was straightforward yet effective: target young Nigerians, particularly those carrying laptops or premium smartphones, confront them under the guise of an official EFCC sting, and then extort money by threatening arrest or legal action. According to the EFCC, Mamuda and Mustafa often staged their operations in public places such as eateries, nightlife spots and along roads, leveraging the victim’s fear of being entangled in a protracted investigation. In many instances, they allegedly used fake EFCC uniforms, identity cards and even weapons to lend credibility to their fraudulent claims. The Commission’s video documentary, which has gone viral on social media, showed the suspects “harassing unsuspecting youths while falsely claiming to be EFCC officials.”
Confirming the arrest in the documentary, the anti‑graft agency stated: “Here is the face of an impostor; a dismissed military personnel parading himself as an EFCC officer. The video shows Haruna Mamuda and his cohort, Salifu Mustafa, his driver, during one of their operations harassing unsuspecting youth. This had been going on for a while. However, they have been apprehended and some are already being prosecuted according to the law. Just as the old saying goes: ‘All days for the thief, but today for the owner.’” The Commission’s statement comes barely three days after Mustafa was separately arraigned before Justice A.I. Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on a four‑count charge of impersonation and misrepresentation.
The EFCC Enugu Zonal Command, where the suspects are currently being held, announced that a comprehensive audit of the syndicate’s bank accounts is ongoing to determine the total volume of illicit funds extorted over the years. Mamuda and his driver will be arraigned in court as soon as preliminary profiling is completed. The agency also used the opportunity to issue a public safety advisory, urging Nigerians never to panic or agree to settle any financial matter with anyone claiming to be an EFCC officer outside the Commission’s official premises. The advisory stressed that legitimate EFCC operatives are strictly prohibited from negotiating cases in commercial hotels, on the streets or at private residences, and that any such approach is a red flag for impersonation.
This breakthrough follows a series of warnings the EFCC had issued in recent months regarding the growing menace of impersonators. In April 2026, the Commission raised the alarm about criminal gangs posing as its operatives to ambush youths and extort motorists across major cities. It noted that the impersonators often stopped vehicles under false pretences linked to number‑plate verification, brandished weapons and fabricated allegations to coerce compliance. The EFCC had also declared Mamuda wanted in April 2026, after he evaded arrest for several weeks.
For the EFCC, the arrest of Mamuda and Mustafa represents a significant operational success and a strong deterrent to others who might attempt to use the Commission’s name to commit crimes. For the countless young Nigerians who have been profiled, intimidated and robbed by such rings, the agency’s action brings a measure of justice. But the case also highlights a lingering trust deficit: citizens are often unsure whether the people accosting them are genuine law enforcement officers or criminals in disguise. The EFCC has therefore made it a priority to educate the public, advising citizens to insist on being taken directly to the nearest official EFCC command office whenever approached by anyone claiming to be an officer.
Mamuda and Mustafa remain in custody as the investigation continues. The EFCC has vowed to trace and recover all proceeds of their illegal enterprise, and to ensure that anyone found to have aided or abetted the syndicate is similarly prosecuted. As the court prepares to hear the case against them, the message from the Commission is clear: the days of using the agency’s name as a shield for criminality are numbered.
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