Concerns are rising after reports emerged that a suspected criminal group is openly promoting a collection of high-powered weapons, including AK-47 rifles and anti-aircraft guns, for sale.
Local sources indicate that the group shared messages and short video clips displaying the firearms, allegedly offering them to other criminal networks. In the footage, several armed men are seen in a room filled with weapons and ammunition.
Some of the men attempted to hide their identities, while one individual spoke in Hausa, presenting the weapons as though they were ordinary merchandise. The video clearly shows stacks of ammunition boxes and multiple firearms laid out in plain sight.
At one point, the speaker highlights both the weapons and the men guarding them, emphasizing the group’s control over the arsenal. He boasts about their firepower and readiness, stating that the weapons are already in their possession, regardless of how they were acquired.
Security sources reviewing the footage warn that this incident reflects a troubling trend, where armed groups embedded in towns are supplying weapons to bandits operating in forests and rural areas.
A source expressed alarm at how non-state actors are able to obtain such sophisticated weaponry, suggesting that the scale of the arms points to powerful backers. They also highlighted the disparity between the advanced weapons used by bandits and the limited equipment available to security operatives on the frontlines.
The source described the situation as a dangerous politicization of national security, noting that ordinary citizens are increasingly bearing the consequences. They prayed for protection for security personnel working under such challenging conditions.
