Nigerian authorities arrested a 35-year-old Cameroonian man on April 29, 2025, at Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State for impersonating a Nigerian Army officer. The suspect, apprehended during a routine patrol, wore a counterfeit military uniform and carried forged identification, claiming to be a captain deployed for anti-poaching operations.
Park rangers, noticing discrepancies in his credentials, alerted the 33 Artillery Brigade, which confirmed he had no military affiliation. He faces charges of impersonation and fraud, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The arrest followed reports of the suspect extorting local vendors and demanding free access to the reserve, a 2,244-square-kilometer sanctuary hosting 500 elephants and 20,000 tourists annually. Investigations revealed he used the fake identity to scam $5,000 from businesses over three months, leveraging Nigeria’s respect for military authority. The army recovered a stolen rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition in his possession, raising concerns about arms trafficking in a region plagued by banditry, with 15,000 deaths since 2020.
Yankari, one of West Africa’s largest wildlife reserves, has increased security, with 200 rangers now patrolling to curb poaching, which killed 30% of its lion population since 2015. The incident has prompted a review of park access protocols, with 10% of visitors flagged for fraudulent documentation in 2024.
The suspect, detained in Bauchi, awaits trial on May 15, with Cameroon’s embassy notified. The case highlights Nigeria’s broader security challenges, with 5,000 impersonation cases reported annually, straining a military stretched by insurgencies. Authorities urged parks to adopt biometric checks, amid fears that such breaches could undermine tourism, contributing 6% to Bauchi’s economy.