Nigerian security forces have detained more than two dozen soldiers and police officers accused of selling weapons from military stockpiles to armed groups, including Islamist insurgents, an army spokesperson said on Friday.
Captain Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson for the military’s anti-insurgency efforts, said the arrests were part of a broader crackdown on the illegal sale of arms and ammunition.
Local media reported that 18 soldiers, 15 police officers and eight civilians were taken into custody.
“This is part of the operation to root out arms and ammunition racketeering in all areas of our operations,” Kovangiya told Reuters. “Personnel found engaging in acts that undermine the system are arrested and tried.”
Kovangiya did not provide details on the types or quantities of weapons sold, but said the suspects would face prosecution.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer and most populous nation, is grappling with a multifaceted security crisis. The northeast faces a persistent insurgency by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, which have overrun several military bases in Borno state in recent months.
During many of these raids, militants have captured weapons from army installations, further complicating security challenges across the region.