The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered and dismantled a criminal syndicate allegedly led by a dismissed soldier who posed as an EFCC operative to extort and intimidate unsuspecting Nigerians, particularly youths in the South-East.
According to the Commission, the gang was led by Haruna Mamuda, a dismissed military personnel who allegedly reinvented himself as a fake high-ranking anti-graft officer, using forged identity documents, tactical gear, and military-style intimidation to carry out illegal raids alongside his driver and accomplice, Salifu Mustafa.
The EFCC disclosed that the duo had for a long time operated a blackmail and extortion network targeting young Nigerians, especially those found with laptops and smartphones, profiling them under the false pretense of cybercrime investigations. Their operations reportedly involved harassment, coercion, and the collection of millions of naira from victims who were threatened into paying “settlement fees” to avoid arrest.
Footage released by the Commission and circulated through its official channels, as also reported by Sahara Reporters, showed the suspects aggressively confronting and intimidating victims during one of their illegal operations.
The EFCC confirmed that intelligence-led surveillance operations eventually led to their arrest, noting that Mamuda exploited his residual military background and fake credentials to bypass suspicion and instill fear in his targets.
The Commission has warned Nigerians against engaging with individuals claiming to be EFCC officers outside official channels, stressing that legitimate operatives are prohibited from conducting negotiations in hotels, roadsides, or private residences. Citizens were urged to insist on being taken to the nearest EFCC zonal office whenever approached.
Authorities at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Command confirmed that the suspects are currently in custody, while investigations are ongoing to trace the total amount of money extorted over time through their fraudulent operations. They are expected to be arraigned in court upon completion of preliminary investigations.
