JUST IN: Several officers arrested as FG Intensifies Crackdown on Security Personnel Involved In sales of arms to Criminals

The federal government is intensifying scrutiny on military personnel involved in the theft and sale of arms to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal organizations. This heightened focus follows national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s statement, revealing that a significant portion of the weapons used by terrorists were funded by taxpayers.....Read Full Article>>

Ribadu specifically condemned security agents for their role in selling arms and ammunition to these criminal groups, expressing strong disapproval of those who assist in the trafficking of weapons.

He assured the public that the government is committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the nation’s safety and security.

Ribadu said, “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’s revelations have ignited a wave of reactions and raised questions about how non-state actors, many of whom have not crossed into Nigeria, are acquiring weapons.

A source indicated to LEADERSHIP that there is growing concern regarding the origins of these arms, emphasising that, although a new agency under the National Security Adviser is set to address the issue, heightened scrutiny will now focus on security personnel, particularly the police.

While the military has made some arrests, the numbers remain low compared to the vast arsenal held by non-state actors.

The Nigerian Police Force has shown limited progress in tackling the issue.

Reports indicate that at least 10 soldiers have been arrested for theft and trafficking of arms from 2020 to 2024, with some dismissed and others still facing ongoing cases.

Notably, on October 11, 2022, troops from Operation Hadin Kai apprehended a soldier, Iorliam Emmanuel, for allegedly supplying ammunition to terrorists, and in April 2021, seven military officers were arrested in Zamfara for aiding banditry.