Posted by Chinenye on Tue 02nd Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
A viral 72-second video showing a suspected bandit casually handling an anti-aircraft weapon in a residential-looking area has triggered renewed alarm over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
A 72-second video shared by commentator Somto Okonkwo shows a suspected bandit casually operating an anti-aircraft weapon in what appears to be a residential setting, with laundry hanging on nearby walls.
The footage draws attention to the alarming level of weaponry now accessible to armed groups, with sophisticated arms believed to be entering the country through poorly monitored borders.
Bandit groups operating across states such as Zamfara and Katsina have been responsible for attacks on villages, livestock theft, and kidnapping for ransom.
Reactions to the crisis are divided some critics hold President Tinubu's administration, in power since 2023, accountable for failing to curb the violence, while others argue the problem is deeply rooted in longstanding issues such as poverty and the widespread availability of illegal arms.
The government, for its part, says it has taken significant action, claiming to have neutralized more than 13,000 bandits and freed close to 10,000 victims.
Only In Nigeria Under Tinubu’s Presidency Will B@ndits And TerrØr!sts Operate So Freely That They Can Record And Post Videos Like This Without Fear Of Consequences.💔🤦🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/fZQIwKpc06
— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) June 2, 2026