The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army has denied allegations that its officers detained a civilian, Deekae Sunday Kiaka, over a personal dispute involving a soldier’s girlfriend.
According to TRADOC, in a press statement released on Saturday and signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Sani Uba, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army, the allegations published by Independent Nigeria on October 16, 2024, were described as “unsubstantiated and misrepresent the facts.”
According to Uba, investigations revealed that Kiaka, a dismissed Nigerian Air Force personnel, was arrested by Military Police on October 6, 2024, for allegedly stealing N1.1 million from food vendor Lynda Moses, who reported the incident.
Kiaka was found to be impersonating a serving sergeant and had previously been dismissed from the Air Force for similar fraudulent activities.
The statement said the case is currently under investigation, and upon completion, will be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for prosecution.
TRADOC urged the media to verify claims before publication, adhering to journalistic ethics.
The statement reads, “Attention of the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army ( TRADOC NA), has been drawn to an unsubstantiated allegation published against the image of the command by an online media outlet (INDEPENDENT NIGERIA) on Wednesday 16 October, 2024.
“The report alleged that some officers of TRADOC NA connived, arrested and detained a civilian on the ‘Orders of the Commander ‘, over suspicion that he wanted to defraud a food vendor who was also a girlfriend and business partner to the man.
“While Headquarters TRADOC NA would want to refrain from engaging with such groundless claims, it is important to address the misinformation that seeks to undermine the integrity of both TRADOC NA, its leadership and the entire personnel of the command.
“It is essential to set the records straight as to what transpired between Miss Lynda Moses (one of the food vendors in TRADOC Officers Mess) and the man Deekae Sunday Kiaka (a dismissed NAF personnel) of the Nigerian Airforce Base in Minna.
“Investigation revealed that Miss Lynda Moses had reported a case to the Military Police (MP) in Minna Military Cantonment sometimes in September 2024 of theft against one fake Sgt Deekae Sunday of the NAF Base in Minna. She alleged that the sum of N1.1 million was withdrawn from her First Bank Account.
“On receipt of the case, the MP was able to arrest the suspect on 6 October, 2024 since the offence was committed in Minna Cantonment when the suspect visited the victim at her business place.
“Upon investigation it was discovered that the accused was a dismissed personnel of the NAF Minna. Investigation further revealed that the accused has been impersonating as a serving ‘Sgt’ in the NAF whereas had since been dismissed from the NAF over a similar fraudulent crime in the past.
“The suspect further averred that on the said date (25 September, 2024), he came to TRADOC officers’ Mess to see Miss Lynda Moses where he requested for her mobile phone to play game, to keep himself busy while Lynda was attending to her customers at her sales point in TRADOC Mess.
“During interrogation, the suspect pleaded that the matter should be resolved by MP in Minna Military Cantonment and should not be taken to Nigerua Police Force ( NPF ). He wrote an undertaking to refund the stolen money while the MP asked him to get a surety to perfect the undertaking.
“The accused requested that his cellphone should be given to him to call someone (who turned out to be another of his fiancé), one Miss Chiwendu Nnadozie, a reporter of Daily Independent in Niger State.
“When Miss Chinwendu Nnadozie was invited at MP office in the Cantonment, she introduced herself as fiance to the accused and accepted to stand as a surety to the accused.
“The acceptance of Miss Chinwendu Nnadozie confirmed that the accused was double dealing in terms of marriage, promised to marry the two ladies at the same time.
“These allegations represent a calculated attempt by a felon to deliberately tarnish the good reputation of TRADOC NA and its leadership.”
