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The National Defense Headquarters on Thursday explained how non-state actors are acquiring weapons.
The Libyan conflict and instability in the Sahel region have enabled arms to flow into Nigeria, exacerbating the country’s insurgency and terrorism crisis, according to the military’s high command.
The Director of Defense Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made this known in response to claims made by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Ribadu, who attended an event in Abuja where small and light weapons were destroyed, said a significant number of illegal weapons used in crimes in the country originally belonged to the government.
The NSA accused soldiers and police officers of selling weapons to domestic criminal elements.
However, while answering questions from journalists, Buba said that the availability of these weapons was mainly due to the Libyan and Sahel crises.
He said: “In response to your question regarding the proliferation of arms in our country and allegations that some of those weapons are coming from our security forces.
“What I can say about it is this: When we talk about arms proliferation, we first have to look at what happened in Libya and the Sahel many years ago.
“This has given the opportunity for weapons to get into the wrong hands and into our country, exacerbating the insurgency and terrorism problem that our country faces. That’s one thing.”
Buba also said that another way for terrorists to obtain weapons was to attack security services and take away rifles.
“No. 2 is in the textbook,” I said. Textbooks say that part of the way rebels and terrorists obtain weapons is by attacking security forces and disarming them.
“I mean this is textbook and proven all over the world, so even if it happened here in Nigeria, some troops would be ambushed, killed or disarmed. We’ve seen it happen, so it’s not surprising.”
However, Buba said the military has consistently responded to such incidents with decisive countermeasures.
“But what we have done is we have made the terrorists pay a higher price than we would have had to pay in that situation,” he said.
The military spokesperson also said that units of the Nigerian Armed Forces killed more than 140 terrorists and arrested 135 suspects across the country last week.
Among those arrested were Pius Igu, the founding father of the Indigenous People of Biafra, and an IPOB commander identified as Emmanuel Onwugu.
Mr. Buba, in his address, said Mr. Igu was arrested in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State while Mr. Onwugu was arrested in Abia State.
He said: “In the South-Eastern Theater, troops from FOB Ors conducted a sting operation that ultimately led to the arrest of IPOB terrorist leaders.
“The arrested terrorist leader has been identified as Pius Igwu, the founder of the ESN Group in Orsu General Area of Imo State.
“Similarly, troops of FOB Amarak conducted a raid which resulted in the arrest of another IPOB terrorist commander identified as Emmanuel Onwugu of Abia State.
“In this connection, the military and security forces in a joint sting operation arrested a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Locke. He was arrested along with 10 other militants in Arochukwu, Abia State.
“Meanwhile, during the week under review, the military neutralized 140 people, arrested 135 people and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages.”
Buba also said that a total of 18 suspected oil thieves were arrested and stolen crude oil worth N1.7 billion was recovered.
He said, “The military also arrested 18 perpetrators of the oil theft.The military also denied the oil theft amounting to an estimated sum of only N1,751,886,550.00.
“Military forces in the Niger Delta region discovered 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugouts, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refineries. Destroyed.
“Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, four motorcycles and three vehicles.
“The military recovered 1,122,710 liters of stolen crude oil and 557,210 liters of illegally refined AGO.”
He also said the military recovered 241 weapons and 3,254 ammunition.
“The breakdown is as follows: 141 AK-47 rifles, 1 PKT rifle, 2 FN rifles, 17 processed rifles, 26 Dane guns, 13 pump-action guns, 4 domestic pistols, and 1 Barretta pistol. magazine, 2 bayonets, and 2 AK-474 guns.
“In addition, 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 970 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 33 rounds of 7.62×54mm ammunition, 76 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 113 rounds of live ammunition, 2 Baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 18 mobile phones, totaling N79,052,150 and other items alone amounting to $19,” he added.
