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Nigeria urged to deepen probe into arms deals, engage Niger republic in joint investigations
Nigeria urged to deepen probe into arms deals, engage Niger republic in joint investigations
By: Zagazola Makama
Security experts have urged the Nigerian government to intensify investigations into arms procurement networks linked to bandit kingpins in the northwest, by working closely with Niger Republic and other Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members.
This follows intelligence reports that AES agencies in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are probing Nigerian bandit leaders and their alleged financiers over cross-border arms deals.
Credible sources revealed that some Nigerian politicians, involved in peace agreements with armed groups, may have diverted large sums of state funds to the kingpins. The funds are allegedly being used to purchase weapons through proxies along the Nigeria–Niger border.
According to the report, the kingpins who have carried out kidnappings of schoolchildren, expatriates, and attacks on Nigerian security forces procure high caliber weapons using hard currency. Several suspected gunrunners connected to the arms network have recently been arrested by AES operatives and are under interrogation.
“The AES agencies have arrested gunrunners crossing into Nigeria who have links to these kingpins. The scale of their arms transactions is alarming,” a security source told Zagazola Makama.
The ongoing probe also seeks to establish whether officials who brokered peace deals with bandits knowingly enabled the diversion of public funds for arms purchases.
Meanwhile, intelligence sources said investigations are ongoing into alleged arms procurement by notorious bandit kingpins in northwestern Nigeria.
Key discoveries include arms acquisition by bandit leaders through proxies along the Nigeria–Niger border and recent arrests of gunrunners linked to the criminal networks.
Security experts stressed the need for renewed collaboration between Nigeria and Niger to dismantle transnational terrorism networks and identify sponsors.
The two countries have historically cooperated in the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked groups, though relations have been strained since the 2023 coup in Niger.
Nonetheless, recent arrests of suspects accused of funding and transporting recruits from West Africa to the Middle East for training point to the importance of intelligence sharing and diplomatic engagement.
Analysts say Nigeria must take advantage of this AES-led investigation by engaging Niger in joint probes to unravel the full scale of the arms procurement networks and expose both local and foreign sponsors fueling insecurity in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel.
Nigeria urged to deepen probe into arms deals, engage Niger republic in joint investigations
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tuba have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Karnuwa general area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation followed intelligence provided by a local resident, Malam Muhammadu Ardo, concerning alleged cattle rustling activities within the area.
The troops reportedly mobilised to Karnuwa at about 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, where they apprehended the suspects identified as Mallam Mohammad Abatcha, 28; Mallam Mamman Bukar, 18; and Malam Modu Hassan, 30.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while using a pickup vehicle with registration number WW 806 GZ Delta, allegedly employed in transporting stolen cattle.
The rustled cattle were recovered and immediately handed over to their rightful owners at the scene of the arrest.
Items recovered from the suspects included a bow and arrow, three mobile phones, five national identity cards and the sum of N20,650.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects admitted to repeatedly stealing and selling rustled cattle to buyers in Maiduguri.
Security sources further disclosed that investigators suspect possible links between the suspects and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad due to alleged inconsistencies observed in their statements during interrogation.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have uncovered an illegal refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
The troops reportedly discovered the illegal refining site around Asa community, where a large cooking pot loaded with stolen crude oil was found stockpiled in sacks.
Military authorities said the recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with operational directives guiding anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.
The operation was conducted without any confrontation or security incident.
The Nigerian military has continued to intensify operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Malumfashi at Kafur, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have raided a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 12:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at Huguma village following intelligence on illicit drug activities within the area.
During the raid, troops apprehended one suspect identified as a major supplier of illicit drugs and other substances to terrorists and criminal elements operating within Kafur Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
Items recovered during the operation included 146 grams of suspected cannabis and 16.5 grams of a substance identified as Exol-5.
The suspect and the recovered drugs have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
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