A Nigerian soldier attached to 35 Battalion in Katsina, Katsina State has been accused of stealing his colleagues’ ammunition and uniforms and selling them to bandits in the State.
A viral video shows the soldier’s hands were tied behind his back as he was being questioned and beaten.
One of the soldiers in the video who spoke in Pidgin English said: “Him steal my ammunition, that one no do am, him steal my SF (Special Force) clothe, that one no do am, him still steal my regimental jacket (he stole my ammunition; not satisfied with that, he went ahead to steal my jacket)”
Another added: “See am, all of us dey the same unit, 35 battalion. He don lose guard, he go sell am go give bandit and he is our fellow soldier, we think say na our fellow soldier, not knowing na our enemy him be (Look at him; we are all in the same unit – 35 battalion. He sold things to bandits. We thought he was our colleague not knowing he is an enemy).”
Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, could not be reached for comment as calls to his line were not answered.
He had also yet to reply to a message sent to him seeking his comment on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
On multiple occasions, the military has condemned cases of military personnel aiding and abetting terrorists, bandits, killer herdsmen, and other criminals in the country.
First published in SaharaReporters