Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade have arrested a 51-year-old man accused of defrauding members of the public of over ₦3.6 million under the pretext of securing recruitment slots into the military.
The suspect, identified as Felix Yadeh, was arrested at Bantaje Village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State after being apprehended by a local vigilante group and handed over to soldiers stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Wukari.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the 6 Brigade, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations showed that the suspect allegedly collected ₦3,627,000 from unsuspecting victims by falsely claiming he could secure enlistment opportunities into the Nigerian Army.
“During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that his younger brother allegedly directed him to collect the money from victims as purported recruitment fees for enlistment into the Nigerian Army,” the statement added.
Items recovered from him include an Infinix Android phone and ₦3,050 in cash.
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The Army said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue to uncover possible accomplices and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud network.
Commander of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commended the vigilance of both troops and local vigilante members involved in the arrest.
He warned members of the public to beware of fraudsters exploiting military recruitment exercises to extort money, stressing that enlistment into the Nigerian Army is free, transparent, and strictly merit-based.
Akaliro urged residents to report suspicious individuals engaging in impersonation or recruitment scams to security agencies for prompt action.
The Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to combating criminal activities and ensuring security across Taraba State and adjoining areas.