Army denies arresting Nigerien arms dealer in Zamfara

The Nigerian Army has debunked claims that a video currently circulating on various social media platforms purporting to show the arrest of a foreign arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachalla, is a recent development linked to Nigerian Army operations in Zamfara State.

The video painted a picture of conniving by gun runners and soldiers to sell arms and ammunition to terrorists, bandits and criminal elements

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Colonel Appolonia Anele, while debunking the video, noted that the resurgence of the video on social media is aimed at misinforming the public and undermining the ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry efforts of the Nigerian Army.

She said, “The Nigerian Army wishes to categorically state that the said video is not recent.

“To set the records straight, the individual featured in the footage, Shehu Ali Kachalla, a 30-year-old Nigerien national, was arrested by the Zamfara State Police Command on 14 May 2021 in a joint intelligence-led operation involving operatives of the Federal Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The suspect confessed to have illegally supplied over 450 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition to criminal elements across Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States.

“The resurgence of the old video on social media is therefore, at best, aimed at misinforming the public, while undermining the ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“The Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional conducts, and where there are proven cases of such involving its personnel, appropriate disciplinary actions are always taken in line with the Armed Forces Act and other extant military regulations.

“While the suspect in the 2021 case alleged collusion by an unnamed security personnel, no Nigerian Army personnel was indicted or arrested in connection with the matter.

We therefore urge the general public to disregard the recirculated video as outdated and misleading.

We also advise content creators and social media influencers to verify the authenticity and date of materials before sharing same in order to avoid unnecessary panic or confusion.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its constitutional mandate to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We shall continue to collaborate with sister security agencies and communities in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality threatening peace and stability in our country.”