The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to the public regarding recruitment fraud, following the arrest of a suspect in Taraba State. The Headquarters 6 Brigade Nigerian Army emphasized that all recruitment into the army is completely free, transparent, and based on merit.
Arrest of Recruitment Fraudster
Lieutenant Umar Muhammed, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that a recruitment fraudster had been apprehended in Bantaje village, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. The suspect, identified as Felix Yadeh, allegedly defrauded several civilians by promising to secure enlistment into the Nigerian Army.
According to the statement, the suspect was captured by a local vigilante group on May 22, 2026, and subsequently handed over to troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari for further investigation. During interrogation, Yadeh reportedly confessed to collecting a total of N3,607,000 from six civilians, claiming the funds were necessary to facilitate their recruitment into the army.
Details of the Fraud
The statement read: “The Headquarters 6 Brigade Nigerian Army has recorded another operational success in its sustained efforts to combat criminal activities and safeguard innocent citizens across Taraba State, in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuibu aimed at eliminating criminality, extortion, and fraudulent activities nationwide.”
It further detailed: “Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wukari took custody of a suspected recruitment fraudster, Mr Felix Yadeh, a 51-year-old man arrested by vigilant members of a local vigilante group at Bantaje Village in Wukari Local Government Area. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained the sum of Three Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-Seven Thousand Naira (N3,627,000) from unsuspecting members of the public under the false pretense of securing recruitment slots into the Nigerian Army.”
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that his younger brother directed him to collect the money from victims as purported recruitment fees. Items recovered from Yadeh include one Infinix Android mobile phone and the sum of Three Thousand and Fifty Naira (N3,050) in cash. The suspect and the recovered exhibits remain in custody as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the fraudulent activities and identify possible accomplices.
Commendation and Warning
The Commander of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Michael Akaliro, commended the troops and the local vigilante group for their vigilance, professionalism, and timely action that led to the arrest. He reiterated the Brigade's commitment to sanitizing the operational environment and warned the public against falling victim to fraudsters claiming to facilitate recruitment into the Nigerian Army in exchange for money.
The Brigade emphasized once again that recruitment into the Nigerian Army is completely free, transparent, and merit-based. Members of the public are encouraged to promptly report any suspicious individuals or activities involving extortion, impersonation, or recruitment scams to security agencies. The Headquarters 6 Brigade Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mandate to ensure peace, security, and the protection of lives and property across Taraba State and its environs.
