The Nigerian Army has announced its intention to investigate the case of certain candidates involved in its 82 86 Regular Recruits Intake, who falsely claimed Lagos as their state of origin.
The individuals, hailing from Kaduna State, had allegedly presented certificates of indigenship from Lagos and asserted their origin from the South-West state. However, their claims were put into question, leading to their arrest.
In response to the incident, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army spokesman, labeled the occurrence as a “serious breach.” He stated in a Wednesday release, “We wish to inform the general public that the fraudulent act perpetrated by the three candidates who attempted to secure vacancies designated for candidates with Lagos State indigeneship is a serious breach of our recruitment process and will not be condoned.”
Nwachukwu assured the public that a comprehensive investigation would be carried out to determine the extent of the fraudulent activities and identify any individuals or syndicates involved. He emphasized the commitment of the Nigerian Army to selecting only the most qualified and deserving candidates.
“The NA will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for this misconduct are held accountable. The culprits involved will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency. The NA is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in this matter,” he added.
Highlighting the transparency of the recruitment process, Nwachukwu mentioned that the arrest demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s dedication to maintaining an open and credible recruitment system. He clarified, “The NA wishes to state that the arrest of the fraudulent candidates was a result of the commitment of the NA to upholding a transparent and credible recruitment process in line with its core values of integrity and fairness.”
He further pointed out that a video recording of the incident indicated the transparency of the process, with the State Representative, an integral member of the recruitment team, having unrestricted access to scrutinize the candidates’ state of origin to verify the genuineness of their indigeneship claims.