The Nigerian Army on Tuesday dismissed reports that two officers connived with internet fraudsters, also called ‘Yahoo boys’, in Edo State and also collecting illegal returns at checkpoints.
Some online media outlets of February 14, 2022, alleged that two Army officers; Captain Ayegba and Captain Okakah, who are both Commander of Operation WABAZIGAN, a security outfit set up by the Godwin Obaseki administration in Edo, and Okakah, Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of Military Police at 4 Brigade, Benin, were allegedly living beyond their means and emboldening the Yahoo boys, who recently “sprayed” Okakah over N4 million at a social event.
The reports further alleged that the aggrieved soldiers said that by allowing the two officers to continue to stay at the brigade without being investigated, they would pollute the Army and make the committed personnel also start cutting corners and be involved in unethical practices.
Reacting on Tuesday, Captain Yemi Sokoya, Asst. Director Army Public Relations dismissed the report.
According to the statement, the Brigade stated that the report is “bereft of truth and therefore entirely misleading, saying the report is nothing short of an attempt to spite the image of the Brigade and by extension the Nigerian Army.
“The unsubstantiated allegations could be viewed as an attempt to defame the Brigade, despite the selfless efforts of its troops in ensuring security in Edo and the contiguous states.”
According to the statement, the Brigade exercises zero tolerance on troops engaged in activities detrimental to service discipline as defaulters are always sanctioned accordingly.