Staff Sgt. Amoke Simon, a serving soldier in the Nigerian Army Engineers Corps, has been apprehended over an alleged N114 million fraud and for falsely claiming involvement in the 2010 military operation that eliminated the notorious kidnapper Obioma Nwankwo, alias “Osisikankwu”.
The suspect, attached to a Lagos regiment, was arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport by joint troops from the 14 Brigade and 6 Division Provost Groups while purportedly attempting to flee to Abuja.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the soldier deceived the Abia State Government by posing as a key figure in the 2010 mission, successfully securing official recognition and medical support.
The suspect is also under the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding a company of N100 million, alongside duping multiple individuals of N6 million and N8 million under false pretenses.
Investigators revealed that Simon used injuries sustained from an unauthorized motorcycle accident in Lagos as a deceptive cover to solicit financial aid from unsuspecting victims.
Military records and testimonies from actual participants confirmed that Simon was never deployed to the Abia forest operation, which was actually commanded by Brig.-Gen. Andrew Audu and led in the field by then-Major Brig.-Gen. Timothy Oparon, alongside 26 soldiers.
Additionally, authorities from the North-East Theatre Command, Operation HADIN KAI, debunked the suspect’s claims of being wounded while fighting Boko Haram, confirming he was never deployed to Borno State.
The soldier is expected to be transferred to Lagos to face appropriate disciplinary procedures.