Dismissed NAF Personnel Arrested in Connection with N1m Fraud Scheme — Army 

Nigerian Army’s TRADOC Denies Allegations of Illegal Civilian Detention

The Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army has refuted claims regarding the illegal detention of a civilian by its Military Police stationed at the Minna Military Cantonment. In a statement issued on Friday, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for TRADOC, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, addressed the allegations, which were raised by an online news platform earlier in the week.

According to the online report, officers from TRADOC allegedly conspired to apprehend and detain a civilian under the directive of their commander. The detainee was suspected of attempting to defraud a food vendor. Lt.-Col. Uba emphasized the need to clarify the situation to restore the integrity of TRADOC, its leadership, and personnel.

The incident began when Miss Lynda Moses, a food vendor at the TRADOC Officers Mess, lodged a complaint with the Military Police in September 2024. She accused a man, identified as Deekae Sunday Kiaka, a dismissed member of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), of theft after he allegedly withdrew N1.1 million from her First Bank account fraudulently.

Following the report, the Military Police arrested Kiaka on October 6, as the alleged crime occurred within the Minna Cantonment while he was at the victim’s place of business. Investigations revealed that Kiaka had previously been dismissed from the NAF for similar fraudulent activities and had been impersonating an active sergeant.

During questioning, Kiaka admitted to visiting the TRADOC Officers Mess to meet with Miss Moses and requested her mobile phone to play games while she attended to customers. He expressed a desire for the matter to be settled within the Military Police and not escalated to the Nigeria Police Force. Kiaka even signed an undertaking to reimburse the stolen amount, provided he could secure a surety.

His request for his cellphone led to the involvement of Miss Chinwendu Nnadozie, a reporter for Daily Independent, who identified herself as his fiancée and agreed to act as his surety. This revelation indicated Kiaka was potentially engaged to both women simultaneously.

Lt.-Col. Uba condemned the allegations, labeling them as an intentional smear campaign by a criminal to damage the reputation of TRADOC and its leadership. He urged media outlets to practice due diligence in verifying their claims before publication, stressing the need for adherence to journalistic ethics.

The TRADOC spokesperson stated that the case will be referred to the police for potential prosecution once the Military Police investigation concludes. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining discipline and working towards the security, peace, and development of the nation.