The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that many of the arms and ammunition seized from terrorists were originally taken from the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police during ambushes or surprise attacks.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, clarified on Thursday that personnel of the Armed Forces do not deliberately supply weapons to terrorists.
Responding to allegations of military complicity in the movement of arms, Buba explained that many of the weapons in terrorist hands were seized during attacks on security forces.
He emphasized that the proliferation of arms, worsened by the collapse of Libya and insecurity in the Sahel region, has contributed to the crisis.
Buba highlighted the military’s consistent and decisive countermeasures, ensuring that terrorists pay a heavy price after each attack. Recently, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu condemned the discovery of military-grade weapons in terrorist caches and strongly criticized any security personnel involved in supplying arms to criminals.