Sources have exposed how some serving military officers and commanders sell arms and ammunition meant for Nigeria’s war against terrorism and banditry to the felons.
The revelation followed the outrage that trailed resurfaced footage showing the confession of an arms dealer, which has been widely shared online.
Nigerians have all along, been blaming the military for the banditry spreading across the country and for even embarking of armed robbery, kidnapping and other very serious crimes, even while on duty, allegations which the military high command have vehemently denied, though members of the public are not satisfied by their denials.
In a current viral clip, a suspect, identified as a 30-year-old Nigerien, Shehu Ali Kachalla, narrated how military personnel provided armed escorts and protection for his illicit weapon deliveries to bandit groups operating in northern Nigeria.
Kachalla was arrested on May 14, 2021, by the Zamfara State Police Command in a joint operation with the Federal Intelligence Bureau and Special Tactical Squad.
During his parade and interrogation, he confessed to smuggling over 450 rifles and 8,000 rounds of ammunition from Niger Republic into Nigeria, selling them to bandit groups in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger states.
He said the weapons were transported in convoys that crossed border areas, and that “military men usually escort and provide security cover to him” during these illicit deliveries.
According to him, this protection included armed soldiers riding alongside the convoys, providing security against rival gangs, custom officials, or anti-smuggling patrols.
“I have sold 450 rifles and 8,000 live ammunition to different criminal gangs,” Kachalla said boldly.
Also, recently, a Nigerian Army Special Court-Martial sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment for illegal arms trafficking and “aiding and abetting the enemy.”
The 7 Division’s Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Haruna Sani, said another soldier bagged a 15-year jail term.
He said all the four soldiers were found guilty of stealing and selling military-grade weapons and ammunition, with some items allegedly smuggled across state lines hidden in bags of food.
Sani said the soldiers were jailed after they pleaded guilty to counts of theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offence in relation to service property as well as aiding “the enemy”.
*How officers, commanders sell arms – Soldiers
Speaking in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, four serving soldiers from different commands confirmed that the illegal acts were ongoing and gave different reasons why it had become rampant.
A soldier serving in Borno State, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told our correspondent that senior military officers and commanders were complicit in the illegal arms deals.
The Private said the practice was well-known within the force.
“It is not a new thing,” he said. “But one thing is certain, the majority who engage in arms dealing are soldiers and commanders.”
He added that the development had sparked resentment among troops on the ground.
“The majority hate the soldiers and commanders involved in those arms dealings. But those things are happening. They are going on right now as we speak,” he said.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, another serving soldier alleged that some troops sell weapons and ammunition to terrorists, blaming the criminal act on harsh living conditions in the military.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the soldier said low salaries often pushed personnel into illegal deals.
“Soldiers at the war front are hungry, and many of them only depend on their salary, which is not adequate. It is very difficult to survive on your salary when you are fighting for your country, and the living conditions are pathetic,” he said.
He described the illegal trade as “highly lucrative”, noting that desperation made it easy for personnel to convince themselves to participate.
The soldier identified three major sources of fast money within the military as illegal arms sales, drug smuggling, and oil bunkering.
He warned, however, that those who ventured into the business found it hard to stop.
According to him, soldiers deployed in conflict zones have easier access to excess rounds of ammunition, which creates opportunities for diversion.
“Those who indulge in the illegal sale of ammunition are those who have made up their minds to leave the army, and they always devise the means to carry out their deals.
“Especially those who are in operational grounds like Katsina and Maiduguri; those that are in operation like that are not assigned limited numbers of rounds. That is where the opportunity to engage in illegal sale of rounds is. Those ones don’t return unexpended rounds,” he revealed.
He also criticised military remuneration, saying it fuels corruption.
“In the military, even paramilitary, the salary is a scam; it is not enough to survive. That is why many of those who are in business with terrorists do not mind the danger in it,” he said.
Sharing a personal experience, another soldier also confirmed the existence of such shady deals but declined to provide further details.
He told Sunday PUNCH that although names of offenders were often circulated in military group chats, such arrests had become rare in recent times.
The soldier disclosed that he once returned from Maiduguri, Borno State, with unexpended rounds but chose to bury them rather than risk being caught with the ammunition.
An army officer also said he witnessed the arrest of some soldiers who attempted supplying arms to Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri.
