Nigerian court sentences four soldiers over illegal arms trade in Borno

A Special Court Martial in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Tuesday, has handed down life sentences to three Nigerian soldiers and a 15-year term to another for involvement in arms smuggling operation aiding criminal groups.

The military trial, chaired by Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, unfolded at the Theatre Command Headquarters, exposing how the servicemen betrayed their duties by facilitating illegal arms distribution. Raphael Ameh, Ejiga Musa, and Patrick Ocheje received life imprisonment, while Omitoye Rufus was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Ameh, serving as an armourer with the 7 Division Garrison, conspired with a now-deceased colleague to steal ammunition from military stockpiles. Investigations revealed a scheme where stolen weapons were hidden in sacks of beans and secretly transported to Enugu and Ebonyi states for sale to criminals.

Detailed bank records uncovered more than 100 financial transactions linked to this criminal enterprise between mid-2022 and mid-2024. Musa, stationed with the 195 Battalion, worked alongside Ocheje and law enforcement personnel to market an AK-47 rifle and large volumes of ammunition, collecting over ₦500,000 in illicit proceeds before his arrest.

Rufus was found to have sold 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police official, while Ocheje diverted arms during communal conflicts and unlawfully took an AK-47 from a fellow soldier. The court ruled that their actions severely compromised national security and directly aided hostile forces against the military.

Brigadier General Abdullahi condemned the group as dishonorable and emphasized the army’s uncompromising position against those who undermine the fight against insurgency by trafficking weapons in any manner.