The Nigerian military has strongly denied allegations that its personnel are involved in the transfer of arms and ammunition to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups across the country. The clarification came from the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, during a press briefing held on Thursday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
This statement was issued in response to recent accusations made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Last week, during an event to destroy decommissioned and recovered illicit arms, Ribadu accused certain soldiers and policemen of aiding criminals by supplying them with weapons, actions he said were aggravating Nigeria’s national security crisis.
However, Buba firmly dismissed these claims, stating that the weapons found in the possession of non-state actors are mostly acquired through attacks on security installations, where insurgents steal arms. He highlighted that the military has been vigilant in addressing such incidents and consistently retaliates against insurgents.
“When we talk about the proliferation of arms, you have to look at what happened in Libya years ago and in the Sahel,” Buba explained, linking the instability in those regions to the influx of illegal weapons into Nigeria. He noted that the collapse of law and order in Libya and ongoing crises in the Sahel have created conditions that facilitate the flow of arms into West Africa, worsening Nigeria’s security challenges.
Buba emphasized that in most cases, terrorists and insurgents obtain arms by attacking security forces and seizing their weapons, a pattern seen in conflict zones worldwide. “This is from the textbook. It is proven all over the world,” he said, referencing military strategies used by insurgent groups globally to gain access to arms.
He further stated that, despite these challenges, the Nigerian military has remained resolute in its efforts to combat the threat. “In every such instance, we have made the terrorists pay a greater price than we have been forced to pay in such circumstances,” Buba said, underscoring the military’s commitment to protecting the country and its citizens.
The military’s response serves as a firm denial of any involvement in arms proliferation and seeks to reassure the public of its dedication to maintaining national security, despite the ongoing challenges posed by insurgency and terrorism in the region.
