Nigerian Soldier Arrested for Allegedly Smuggling Ammunition to Bandits

Nigerian Soldier Arrested for Allegedly Smuggling Ammunition to Bandits

In a shocking turn of events, Private Bara'u Tajuddeen, a soldier with the 19 Special Force Brigade in Maiduguri, has been apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force for allegedly stealing military ammunition and anti-aircraft rounds. The soldier, with service number 22NA/82/3441, was caught at the Maiduguri motor park while en route to Kano, attempting to sell the stolen weapons to bandits.

According to sources, Tajuddeen had been under surveillance before his arrest. This incident comes on the heels of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu's warning about corrupt military and police personnel selling arms to criminal elements. Ribadu emphasized that the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons poses a significant threat to national security, exacerbating insurgency, banditry, and violent crimes 

The proliferation of light weapons and illicit arms trafficking in Nigeria has become a major concern, escalating conflicts and undermining peace agreements. The wide availability, accumulation, and illicit flows of such weapons intensify violence, causing devastating havoc on many societies ¹. Nigeria's security challenges are compounded by the excessive availability of small arms, a repercussion of the Cold War era's rise in arms production .

A sizeable number of illicit arms used in crimes originally belonged to the government, diverted by corrupt elements within security agencies. The National Security Adviser stressed that addressing this issue is crucial for national stability and security. The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has been working to address this issue through arms destruction exercises 

Director General DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd) noted that the recent exercise was the third since the centre's establishment and the first under his command. The destruction of unserviceable, obsolete, and recovered arms demonstrates the government's commitment to a secure future.

This arrest highlights the need for increased vigilance and accountability within Nigeria's security forces. As the country grapples with insurgency and banditry, addressing corruption and arms proliferation is crucial for national stability and security.