Original image, Noah Ribadu/X
The way the Nigerian government came out accusing the security forces of selling weapons to gunmen has caused a debate among the citizens, a situation that experts in the security sector say they have known for a long time.
The Chief Adviser to the President on Security Affairs, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu disclosed this on Thursday Abuja, during the ceremony of burning the weapons seized from the gunmen.
The weapons that were recovered from the bandits and other damaged ones, including 2,400 guns, were burned in front of the country’s security chiefs, security officials and other stakeholders in the security sector.
Nuhu Ribadu said that most of the weapons that were burnt – which were recovered from the hands of the bandits – belonged to the national security forces.
The security adviser to the president also confirmed that most of the weapons used by the forest bandits are obtained from the barbarians of the security forces, who he said illegally sell the guns to the bandits. .
Nuhu Ribadu said, “It is unfortunate that those who fight against terrorist activities avoid supporting those who do wrong”.
He then said that the Nigerian government will take strict measures to punish those found guilty of transporting the weapons to other places.
In fact, many citizens have been complaining and expressing their concern about how the bandits are getting the weapons that sometimes they have even passed the quality of the national security officers.
The President’s adviser on security matters, said that it is necessary to fight against these evils, as well as the manufacturers of weapons in the country who continue to aggravate the security problem. Also, he explained the efforts of the Nigerian government to continue the fight against bandits.
We have known this for a while – Experts
Security experts in Nigeria say that Nuhu Ribado’s claim is an unquestionable fact.
Dr. Kabiru Adamu, the head of Beacon Consulting, which analyzes security issues, told the BBC that many have already discovered this.
“Since Alhaji Ali Kwara started speaking, we have started a deep investigation in 2021, and our investigation has confirmed this to us”, said Kabiru Adamu.
The expert added that they also received similar information from other national security officials.
“Likewise, during the reign of former President Muhammadu Buhari, if you don’t forget, the main auditor, that is, the Auditor General, released some information and evidence that showed that terrorists were using the weapons of the security forces.” ‘, he said.
He added that “our research has confirmed this claim that the security forces are giving their weapons to civilians for their use”.
What should the government do?
According to Dr. Kabiru Adamu, the right to stop the spread of weapons from the suspected security forces to the bandits rests on the government, and if it does it seriously then it can be successful.
He said, “first of all, the government should take this matter seriously. Those who say that there is a problem, they are the ones who have the right to correct it. It is not appropriate to say that they are coming out and saying, without defining the measures. that they will assume that I am not correcting.”
Regarding the ways to fix it, the expert said that they are many. “There should be strict background checks on those who are going to be employed, and it should be done in a proper way.
And after a person is recruited, it is also good to re-examine.
“In the same way, the system of storing weapons and how to receive the weapons, etc., would be good to change so that even if a person wants to commit a crime, he will be afraid.”
In the end, he said that science should be used, “that is, tracking devices should be placed on weapons and even security officers. Then strict measures should be taken to track security officers, and if there is a problem, they should be punished.”
The increase in gambling activities in Nigeria
In recent years, Nigeria has been facing an increase in the activities of armed groups, such as Boko Haram, who have plagued the northeastern region of Nigeria, especially in recent years, when they intensified their attacks in the region.
Likewise, in the South-Eastern region of the country, members of the IPOB group are suffering from frequent attacks, especially on the security forces.
In recent years, it has been seen how the members of IPOB are violating the curfew on some days, as part of their struggle to break away from Nigeria.
And the north-west and north-central regions that are suffering from increasing attacks by bandits who kidnap people for ransom.
These militias have plagued the north-west and north-central parts of the country, forcing many local communities to leave their towns.
