How rogue soldiers divert weapons to bandits – Sources

Some serving soldiers have revealed how officers and commanders sell arms and ammunition meant for Nigeria’s war against terrorism and banditry.

The revelation followed the outrage that trailed resurfaced footage showing the confession of an arms dealer, which has been widely shared online.

In the viral clip, the 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 porous border areas, and that “military men usually escort and cover him” during these deliveries.

According to him, this protection included armed soldiers riding alongside the convoys, providing security against rival gangs, customs officials, or anti-smuggling patrols.

“I have sold four hundred and fifty rifles and eight thousand live ammunition to different criminal gangs,” Kachalla said.

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”.

Credit: Punch