The federal government is now investigating officers and men of security personnel stealing arms and selling them to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs.
Recall that at least 10 soldiers were arrested between 2020 and 2024 for stealing and selling arms and ammunition. Among them, some have been dismissed from service, while some cases are still pending.
Similarly, troops of Operation Hadin Kai had on October 11, 2022, arrested a serving soldier for allegedly stealing and supplying ammunition to terrorists.
The soldier, identified as Iorliam Emmanuel, was working under the 156 task force battalion in Mainok, Borno State.
The Zamfara State police had in April 2021 arrested seven serving military officers for allegedly supporting banditry activities in the state.
The military personnel allegedly supplied bandits with logistics and information.
Another soldier was arrested on May 9, 2024, over stolen ammunition and grenades concealed in a bag of rice in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The soldier, identified as L/cpl Mubarak Yakubu, was arrested with 756 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four 36 hand grenades.
In August 2024, another serving soldier, a sergeant, was arrested with 485 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and two magazines in Borno State.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, had accused security agents of selling their arms and ammunition to the criminals, explained that the most arms being used by terrorists in the country are weapons that were purchased with the taxpayers’ money.
The NSA gave assurance that the government would do everything possible to ensure the country is safe, secure, and protected, noting that security personnel facilitate the movement of weapons to terrorists, bandits, and other non-state actors.
“We have to find a way of putting a stop to this. If we want to recover our country and live in peace and stability, we must.
“The worst human being is a policeman or a soldier who will take arms from his formations and sell it or hide it out for the wrong people to come and kill his colleagues.
“We must fight these people, but there are merchants of death and evil from the outside world.
“The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons remains a major threat to our national security, exacerbating issues such as insurgency, banditry, and other violent crimes,” Ribadu said.
The director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the minister had responded to the allegations and he won’t speak further.
Also, the director of defense media operations, Major General Edward Buba, declined to comment on the issue.
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