The Nigerian Army has arrested a fake recruitment official in Taraba State for attempting to scam unsuspecting members of the public aspiring to join the military.

In a statement shared on its official X handle, the army disclosed that the fake official was arrested at a recruitment centre on Saturday.

It read, “Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have apprehended an individual posing as army recruitment official in Taraba State, who was attempting to scam aspiring military candidates.”

The statement noted that the arrest was made during a visit by the Commander 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, to the recruitment centre at 114 Battalion Jimilari to assess the ongoing process and ensure its transparency.

It added, “The imposter was arrested today, 22 June 2024, as he tried to collect money from hopeful recruits, promising them guaranteed entry into the Nigerian Army. The swift action of the troops thwarted his plans, protecting the candidates from falling victim to fraud.’’

Assuring the candidates of a fair and transparent recruitment process, Brigadier General Uwa, expressed the army’s resolve “to maintain a level playing field for all candidates,” insisting that, “Our recruitment will be based solely on merit, and we will not tolerate any fraudulent activities.”

He also emphasized that recruitment is voluntary and free, and warned candidates against giving money to anyone promising to help them succeed in the recruitment screening.

Commending the vigilance of the troops, Gen. Uwa emphasized that the integrity of the recruitment process was the army’s top priority, adding that the nabbed “suspect would be handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.”

The brigade therefore urged the candidates and the public to report any suspicious activities related to the recruitment exercise to the authorities, to help ensure that only the most qualified candidates were inducted into the army.