FIC Report (Taraba State) – The Headquarters of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army has arrested a suspected recruitment fraudster accused of defrauding members of the public of over ₦3.6 million under the guise of securing enlistment into the Nigerian Army.
The suspect, identified as Mr. Felix Yadeh, 51, was apprehended by members of a local vigilante group at Bantaje Village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State and later handed over to troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly collected a total of ₦3,627,000 from unsuspecting victims while falsely promising them recruitment slots into the Nigerian Army.
The Army said the suspect reportedly confessed during interrogation that his younger brother instructed him to collect the money as purported recruitment fees for enlistment into the service.
Items recovered from the suspect included one Infinix Android mobile phone and ₦3,050 cash.
The statement noted that the suspect and the recovered items remain in military custody as investigations continue to uncover the full scope of the alleged fraud and identify possible accomplices.
Commander of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commended the troops and the local vigilante group for their vigilance and swift response that led to the arrest.
He reiterated the Brigade’s commitment to tackling criminal activities and warned Nigerians against falling prey to individuals claiming they can facilitate recruitment into the Nigerian Army in exchange for money.
The Brigade stressed that recruitment into the Nigerian Army is free, transparent, and strictly merit-based, urging members of the public to report suspicious persons involved in extortion, impersonation, or recruitment scams to security agencies.
The operation, according to the Army, forms part of ongoing efforts directed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuibu, to eliminate criminality, extortion, and fraudulent activities across the country.
Jibrin Hussaini
HoC Jalingo Taraba State
