The Nigerian Army has rewarded Private Utim Terwase with ₦500,000 after he refused an alleged bribe from a suspected kidnapper in Plateau State. The soldier had apprehended the suspect following an attempted escape, but declined the ₦500,000 offered to secure the suspect’s release. Instead of compromising his duty, he handed the suspect over to the appropriate authorities.
A Reward for Integrity
The cash reward was presented on behalf of the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana. The Commander of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, Colonel Philimon Malgwi, presented the money on Wednesday.
Speaking during the presentation, Dangana commended the soldier, stating that his action demonstrated the level of discipline and commitment expected of military personnel. He described the conduct as reflecting the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty and commitment to duty.
The General Officer Commanding noted that Terwase had shown honesty, accountability and selfless service by refusing to compromise his responsibility. He added that the soldier’s conduct deserved recognition and should inspire other soldiers.
“Operation Enduring Peace therefore considers Private Terwase’s action worthy of commendation and encourages all personnel to emulate his exemplary conduct,” Dangana said.
The GOC urged officers and soldiers serving under Operation Enduring Peace to follow Terwase’s example, noting that the recognition was intended to promote integrity, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their duties. The ₦500,000 reward is equivalent to the amount the soldier reportedly refused to accept from the suspect.
Similar Recognition Elsewhere
The development echoes a similar case in 2023, when the Anambra State Police Command awarded ₦250,000 to a female police officer, Inspector Charity Oyor, for rejecting a bribe offered by a suspected cable thief in Onitsha.
Oyor was on traffic duty in the market on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, when she spotted a shuttle bus carrying six heavy bundles of stripped armoured cable suspected to have been stolen. She stopped the driver and asked the purported owner about the consignment. Rather than explain how he came to possess the cable, the man offered her a bribe, which she rejected.
