The Nigerian Navy arrested 12 people in Akwa Ibom State for running an illegal Coast Guard recruitment and training camp.
The Nigerian Navy and joint security teams have stopped a fake military recruitment camp and arrested twelve people in Akwa Ibom State.
The joint security operation took place on Monday, August 31, 2026, inside Uwa West community in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
Naval officers from the Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee worked together with army soldiers from the 6 Battalion and police officers to raid a school called Merchant Seaman Academy.
The security team found that the camp was being used as an illegal training center to recruit young people as cadets for a fake organization called the Nigeria Coast Guard Academy.
The main reason why security officers stormed the training camp is that the group was operating without government permission or any legal authority under Nigerian law.
Criminal organizers were using the fake academy to deceive young job seekers who wanted to build careers in the navy or maritime sector.
The fake leaders took money from unsuspecting young people and promised them fake military jobs. Out of the twelve persons arrested during the raid, 6 are suspected organizers, 5 are young trainees, and one is a school cadet. All 12 suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and court prosecution.
The military warned members of the public to stop giving money or personal documents to unknown training camps or fake online adverts. Citizens are advised to always check with official government offices before applying for military jobs.
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Explaining how the joint team caught the fraudsters, military leaders shared details about the operation. Speaking about the illegal training center, Director of Naval Information Captain Abiodun Folorunsho stated that “the team raided the Merchant Seaman Academy, which was allegedly being used as a venue for the unauthorised recruitment and training of persons presented as provisional cadets of the purported agency”.
Warning young job seekers to avoid fake military ads, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho added that the public should “exercise caution when responding to recruitment advertisements from purported security, maritime or military organisations,” urging prospective applicants to “verify the authenticity of such organisations through appropriate government channels before committing funds or personal information”. Police teams have started questioning the six organizers to find everyone involved in the scam.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
