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A man has been arrested in Nigeria’s Plateau State for masquerading as a member of a military security task force to defraud families of detained suspects, authorities announced Saturday. Musa Ali, a middle-aged man, was apprehended by operatives of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) after he allegedly posed as a personnel of the peacekeeping unit to extort ₦400,000 (approximately $480) from relatives of a jailed gunrunner, according to an official statement.

The security task force, deployed to address long-standing intercommunal violence and criminal activity in the region, disclosed that Ali falsely promised to halt investigations and secure the release of the detained suspect, who remains unnamed and is implicated in illegal arms trading. Maj. Samson Nantip Zhakhom, OPSH’s media officer, confirmed that Ali’s scheme unraveled when operatives monitoring the case uncovered the deception. “This individual exploited the family’s desperation, fraudulently presenting himself as one of our personnel,” Zhakhom said, urging the public to remain vigilant against such scams.

Authorities emphasized that OPSH does not solicit payments or favors to influence legal proceedings. “All suspects undergo thorough investigation under established laws to ensure justice and sustain peace in our operations area,” Zhakhom stressed, reaffirming the unit’s commitment to transparency. The arrest, he added, reflects OPSH’s “zero tolerance for corruption” and its broader efforts to uphold accountability within its ranks.

The case underscores recurring challenges in Nigeria’s conflict-prone regions, where security forces combat both criminal networks and public distrust. Plateau State, situated in the country’s volatile Middle Belt, has faced chronic insecurity linked to farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and arms trafficking. Impersonation scams targeting vulnerable families have occasionally emerged, exploiting gaps in public awareness about legal protocols.

Zhakhom confirmed Ali will face prosecution once investigations conclude, signaling a deterrent message to potential offenders. The statement did not specify charges but noted the suspect’s actions violated laws against impersonation and fraud. OPSH urged communities to report similar incidents through official channels, cautioning against engagements with unauthorized individuals claiming affiliation with security agencies.

The incident has drawn attention to the risks of exploitation in regions grappling with instability, where judicial processes can appear opaque to civilians. Analysts note such schemes risk further eroding public confidence in institutions, even as security forces stress adherence to due process. For OPSH, the arrest represents both a operational success and an opportunity to reinforce trust through transparency, a critical factor in its mandate to stabilize one of Nigeria’s most restive regions.