Ribadu condemns security officers supplying arms to criminals, urges accountability

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has delivered a stern condemnation of security personnel involved in stealing and selling arms and ammunition to criminal elements, labeling them as “the worst human beings.”

Ribadu, speaking in Abuja at the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons’ arms destruction event, expressed outrage at the actions of policemen and soldiers engaged in these criminal activities, which fuel Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis.

“The worst human being is a policeman or a soldier who will take arms from his own formations and sell them or hide them out for the bad people to come and kill his own colleagues,” Ribadu stated.

He emphasized the devastating impact of this betrayal on national security and stressed the urgency of addressing the issue. “We have to find a way of putting a stop to this if we want to recover our country and live in peace and stability,” he added.

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Ribadu’s remarks come as Nigeria grapples with multiple security challenges, including Boko Haram’s 15-year insurgency in the North-East, which has claimed over 40,000 lives, and the increasing violence from armed “bandits” terrorizing villages in Central and North-West Nigeria.

These criminal groups, emboldened by the availability of illegal arms, have been responsible for widespread destruction, killings, and displacement of residents.

Security experts warn that the proliferation of illicit arms, often originating from government stockpiles, has worsened these threats. Colonel John Audu (rtd), a defense analyst, said, “The complicity of some security personnel in the arms trade is one of the greatest betrayals we face as a nation. It not only undermines the fight against terrorism and banditry but erodes the public’s trust in the military and police forces.”

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Ribadu’s call for accountability within the security sector has been echoed by other experts. Dr. Aisha Usman, a security and conflict resolution specialist, emphasized the need for stricter oversight and reforms.

“There must be civilian harm reduction measures, better vetting of personnel, and an overhaul of the system that allows this kind of corruption to flourish. If Nigeria is to regain peace, we must rebuild trust and accountability in our security forces,” Usman said.

As the country battles escalating insecurity, Ribadu’s message serves as a reminder of the internal challenges undermining Nigeria’s efforts to restore peace. The NSA urged immediate action to stem the flow of arms from security forces to criminals and called for enhanced efforts to recover illicit weapons from circulation.

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