The Nigerian army has arrested more than 30 soldiers and members of the police force for selling arms from military stocks to armed groups, including Islamist insurgents, a spokesman said. Africa’s most populous country and leading energy producer, Nigeria is battling insecurity on many fronts, including a long-running insurgency in the country’s northeast and armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest.
Nigeria has seen a resurgence of deadly jihadist attacks in the northeast in recent weeks, Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).Borno State, in the northeast of the country, where Nigeria has been waging a counter-insurgency campaign for years, has been hardest hit by recent violence. The detention of 30 police officers on May 29, 2025 by the Nigerian authorities for their alleged involvement in the illegal sale of arms to armed groups, including Islamist insurgents, marks a turning point in the country’s fight against terrorism.
It seems we are losing ground. There is urgent need for aggressive military action and actionable intelligence to counter the insurgency. The recent attacks on Sabon Geri, Damboa, Wulgo, Baga and Monguno point to the need to up our ante in confronting the Boko Haram insurgency decisively and swiftly. We should not grant breathing space to Boko Haram to regroup, rearm, and carry out attacks on our territory.
BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM, Governor of Borno State
Nigeria continues to face security challenges marked by a jihadist insurgency in the country’s northeast, escalating violence caused by armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest, separatist militancy in the southeast and clashes between communities in the central regions. The country’s overstretched security forces are struggling to contain the unrest.
On 27th and 29th March 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult men, adult females and some children surrendered to troops within the theatres of operation following the ongoing onslaught on them by our gallant troops. Equally, between 27th of March to 1st April, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted offensive operations, including fighting patrols, raids, and clearance operations in Bama, Gwoza, Kaga and Konduga local government areas of Brno State. During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized and others apprehended.
MARKUS KANGYE, Director of Defence Media Operations
According to local authorities, the army’s decision to publicly acknowledge the arrests is a sign of a renewed effort to restore trust and integrity within its ranks. With the arms trafficking investigation underway, the authorities are under pressure to prevent further violations and protect the national arsenals from internal compromise.
