Army rewards soldier ₦500,000 for rejecting bribe

The Nigerian Army has rewarded Private Utim Terwase with a cash sum of ₦500,000 for turning down an alleged bribe from a suspected kidnapper in Plateau State.

Terwase apprehended the suspect following an attempted escape and refused a ₦500,000 bribe offered to secure the suspect’s release. Rather than compromise his duty, the soldier handed the suspect over to the appropriate authorities.

The cash reward was presented on Wednesday on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, by the Commander of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, Colonel Philimon Malgwi.

Speaking during the presentation, Major General Dangana commended the soldier, stating that his conduct reflects the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty, and commitment expected of Nigerian Army personnel.

“The soldier’s conduct reflects the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty and commitment to duty expected of personnel of the Nigerian Army. Operation Enduring Peace therefore considers Private Terwase’s action worthy of commendation and encourages all personnel to emulate his exemplary conduct.”

The GOC emphasised that Terwase displayed honesty, accountability, and selfless service by refusing to compromise his responsibility.

He urged officers and personnel serving under Operation Enduring Peace to follow the soldier’s example, adding that the reward aims to promote integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

The ₦500,000 monetary award presented to Terwase is equivalent to the exact amount the soldier rejected from the suspect.

The incident comes after a similar recognition in August 2023, when the Anambra State Police Command awarded ₦250,000 to a female officer, Inspector Charity Oyor, for rejecting a bribe offered by a suspected cable thief in Onitsha.

Inspector Oyor was on traffic duty in the market when she intercepted a shuttle bus carrying six heavy bundles of stripped armoured cable. When questioned about the consignment, the suspect offered her a bribe, which she turned down before taking official police action.