Commodore Jamila Malafa, a Naval officer, has alleged that some soldiers who were drafted for the anti-insurgency fight in the North East sell arms for their own survival.
In a bid to curb the menace of insurgency, Malafa suggested that a wall should be built on Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries to curb proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
She said that troops’ operations against terrorists became difficult as a result of sabotage. She added that the amount of ammunition supplied to Nigeria as an aid for counter-terrorism war was deliberate to frustrate efforts.
It was a “deliberate act to worsen the situation as soldiers, who become financially broke, sell the arms at their disposal cheaply to survive,” she said.
Malafa spoke at the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence in Abuja.
The Committee is considering four bills to tackle the worsening insecurity in the country.
The officer, who claimed that she fought the Boko Haram sect in the zone, further alleged the foreign nations of contributing to the protracted fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
She said, “The foreign nations supplying arms to this country to fight insurgency are not sincere. They make these arms available in excess to the soldiers fighting this war. One soldier sleeps on over 30 ammunition, and anytime he is broke, he brings them out and sells between $20 and $30.”
Meanwhile, Femi Gbajabiamila, House Speaker, has stated that the legislation being made were aimed to make the country safer and better.
Gbajabiamila said, “Security is about everyone and not the security agencies alone. We will engage with stakeholders and citizens alike to make sure that these bills in their final form serve their purpose.”
