Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army have arrested Felix Yadeh, 51, on suspicion of defrauding members of the public with false promises of securing them places in the military. Vigilante members nabbed him at Bantaje Village in Wukari Local Government Area before handing him over to soldiers at the Forward Operating Base there.
Yadeh allegedly collected N3,627,000 from victims claiming he could arrange their recruitment into the Nigerian Army. During questioning, he told investigators that his younger brother instructed him to take the money from people seeking enlistment, presenting it as recruitment fees. The army recovered N3,050 in cash and an Infinix Android phone from him when he was arrested.
Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commander of the 6 Brigade, commended the vigilante group and troops for their swift work. He warned the public against falling for anyone promising to arrange army recruitment in exchange for money. The military stressed that all recruitment into the Nigerian Army is free, transparent, and based purely on merit.
The arrest fits into the broader push by Lieutenant General Waidi Shuibu, the Chief of Army Staff, to stamp out extortion, fraud, and other crimes across the country. The 6 Brigade said it remains committed to protecting lives and property in Taraba State. Citizens with information about recruitment scams, extortion, or impersonation have been asked to report such activities to security agencies immediately. Yadeh remains in military custody while investigations continue.
