Keypoints:
- 41 individuals held over weapons sales to militants
- Crackdown follows raids by Boko Haram, ISWAP
- Military vows to prosecute those fuelling insecurity
NIGERIAN authorities have detained dozens of soldiers, police officers, and civilians over alleged involvement in the illegal sale of weapons to armed groups, including Islamist insurgents, Reuters has reported.
According to Captain Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson for Nigeria’s military anti-insurgency operation, the arrests mark a major push to dismantle internal arms trafficking networks suspected of fuelling violence across the country.
‘It is part of the counter-arms and ammunition racketeering operation conducted in every theatre of operations,’ Kovangiya told Reuters. ‘If any personnel engage in any act that is inimical to the system, they are arrested and tried.’
While details on the volume and type of weapons sold were not disclosed, Kovangiya confirmed that all suspects would face prosecution.
Dozens implicated in insider arms deals
Local media reports cited by Reuters indicate that 18 soldiers, 15 police officers, and eight civilians were taken into custody as part of the operation. The arrests come amid a surge in attacks by jihadist groups, most notably Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who have seized weapons from military bases in recent raids.
The northeastern state of Borno, where Nigeria has waged a years-long counterinsurgency campaign, has borne the brunt of recent violence. Several military outposts in the region have been overrun this year, with militants reportedly looting weapon stockpiles.
Systemic threat from within
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and its largest oil producer, is battling complex security threats on multiple fronts. The revelation that personnel from within its own security forces may be complicit in arming insurgents has sparked alarm.
Analysts say the arrests confirm longstanding fears about corruption within the armed forces, where weak oversight and limited accountability have allowed criminal activity to fester.
The military’s decision to publicly acknowledge the arrests signals a renewed effort to restore trust and integrity within its ranks. Kovangiya declined to provide a timeline for formal charges but said military justice would be pursued.
Pressure mounts as violence spreads
In addition to the jihadist insurgency in the northeast, Nigeria continues to face escalating violence from armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest, separatist militancy in the southeast, and communal clashes in central regions. The country’s overstretched security forces have struggled to contain the unrest.
With the arms trafficking investigation now underway, authorities are under pressure to prevent future breaches and protect national armouries from internal compromise.
This crackdown may offer a critical first step, but experts warn it must be followed by deeper institutional reforms to ensure weapons don’t continue to fall into the wrong hands.
