By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Headquarters 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) has refuted claims circulating on social media allegeding that a student of Taraba State University, Mr. Yebsonya Gamboro, was unlawfully arrested by military personnel on campus.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Brigade described the reports as “misleading and not a true reflection of events,” insisting that the student in question was not among those earlier questioned for impersonating military personnel.
According to the statement signed by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the initial incident occurred on Friday, 10 October 2025, during a social event within the university premises.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Yebsonya Gamboro was not among the students initially apprehended and questioned on the said date for illegally wearing military camouflage during a social function held within the school premises,” the statement clarified.
“Those students were immediately released after questioning.”
The Army explained that subsequent findings revealed that Mr. Gamboro was later sighted wearing military camouflage and confronted by another student, Manga Emmanuel Manga, a 200-level Computer Science student who is also a serving personnel (Ex-Boy).
“This encounter reportedly led to an altercation,” the Brigade said. “During the confrontation, Mr. Gamboro allegedly called some friends and assaulted Mr. Manga, during which the latter’s mobile phone was reported missing.”
The 6 Brigade noted that Mr. Gamboro was not “arrested” by soldiers, but rather invited for questioning after the scuffle escalated.
“Following the incident, some of Mr. Manga’s colleagues sought assistance to present Mr. Gamboro to the Brigade for questioning,” the statement continued.
“He was subsequently released the following morning and handed over to the University Security Officer for further investigation and appropriate administrative action aimed at recovering the missing phone.”
Lieutenant Muhammad reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army in Taraba State operates strictly within the law and maintains cordial relations with the university community and other institutions.
“Headquarters 6 Brigade remains committed to upholding the rule of law, due process, and maintaining cordial relations with all institutions within Taraba State, including Taraba State University,” the statement assured.
“The Brigade does not condone any act of indiscipline or abuse of authority and encourages members of the public to always verify information before dissemination.”
The Brigade further cautioned that wearing military uniforms or accoutrements without lawful authority is a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
“It is important to note that Section 110 (1) and Section 251 of the Criminal Code Act (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) make it unlawful for any person who is not a serving member of the Armed Forces to wear or use military uniforms or accoutrements, as doing so constitutes an offence punishable under the law,” the statement emphasized.
The Army reiterated its stance on professionalism and accountability, urging the public and media to seek clarification before spreading unverified claims.
