A soldier has been caught extorting money from motorists in Abia State, southeast Nigeria, by a superior officer. The soldier, identified as Tizhe Luka, is attached to the 144 (R) Battalion, Ohafia.
Sources indicated that military personnel at a checkpoint along Port Harcourt Road were accused of extorting money from commercial and private motorists on intra/interstate routes. Motorists who refused to comply were reportedly forced to park by the roadside, delaying them as punishment.
This prompted a senior officer to disguise as a civilian and mark some Naira notes to investigate the accusations.
“He was caught extorting money from motorists by our Oga (boss), who disguised himself to see what was happening along that road. He marked some Naira notes and approached the checkpoint, and this soldier was caught. It’s disheartening because he is not a young soldier; he is a sergeant. He really embarrassed the military.
“This soldier was enlisted into the Nigerian Army on February 15, 1999, meaning he has already served for 25 years and a few months.
“The incident occurred on May 15, and he has now been demoted from Sergeant to Corporal after an internal disciplinary action.”
Efforts to reach the army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, failed as he did not answer calls to his mobile line or reply to a text message sent to him to confirm the reported demotion of the soldier.