A Nigerian soldier has turned down a N500,000 bribe allegedly offered by a suspected notorious kidnapper, only to receive the same amount as a reward for his honesty.
The soldier, Private Utim Terwase, attached to Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau State, was rewarded with N500,000 for refusing to compromise his duty in exchange for money.
The military task force spokesman, Captain Chinonso Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Jos on Wednesday.
According to Oteh, Terwase arrested the suspected kidnapper after an attempted escape but rejected his offer of N500,000 to secure his release.
Rather than collect the money, the soldier handed the suspect over to the appropriate authorities.
Impressed by his conduct, the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Maxwell Dangana, rewarded him with N500,000, the exact amount he had refused to collect as a bribe.
Dangana, represented by the Commander of Sector 6, Colonel Philimon Malgwi, praised the soldier for demonstrating integrity, discipline and professionalism.
He said Terwase had refused to sacrifice his responsibility for personal gain, describing his action as an example of honesty and selfless service.
The military commended the soldier and urged other personnel to emulate his conduct, stressing that integrity and accountability remained essential to its operations.
It added that the reward was meant to reinforce the importance of ethical conduct among troops and send a message that honesty would be recognised.
The statement concluded with a striking remark: “A soldier who refused N500,000 in dirty money has earned N500,000 in honour. Indeed, integrity pays!”
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