Maiduguri, Borno State — A Special Court Martial of the Nigerian Army has sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment and another to 15 years for their roles in a dangerous arms trafficking network that supplied weapons to criminals and militias, undermining counter-insurgency operations.
The trial, presided over by Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, was convened at the Theatre Command Headquarters, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), with Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, overseeing proceedings.
Delivering judgment, Abdullahi handed life sentences to Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje, while Corporal Omitoye Rufus received a 15-year jail term.
Arms Trafficking Exposed
The court found the soldiers guilty of offences including theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, and aiding the enemy — all punishable under the Armed Forces Act.
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Sgt. Ameh, an armourer at 7 Division Garrison, conspired with a late colleague to steal ammunition from the division’s armoury. He allegedly worked with police officers to conceal the weapons in bags of beans and smuggle them to Enugu and Ebonyi States for criminals. Bank records revealed over 100 suspicious transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.
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Sgt. Musa, armourer of 195 Battalion, collaborated with L/Cpl Ocheje and police officers to sell an AK-47 rifle and ammunition. Records showed he collected over ₦500,000 before his arrest while attempting to offload more arms.
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L/Cpl Ocheje, deployed to the forward operating base in Molai, was convicted of diverting ammunition during communal clashes and stealing a colleague’s AK-47 rifle.
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Cpl. Rufus was found guilty of selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police officer.
“Bad Eggs” in the Ranks
In his ruling, Abdullahi condemned the convicted soldiers as “bad eggs” who betrayed the trust, honour, and discipline expected of Nigerian troops, particularly amid the ongoing fight against insurgency.
“Their actions directly endangered military operations and national security, amounting to aiding the enemy,” Abdullahi declared, reaffirming the Army’s zero-tolerance policy on selling arms and ammunition “in whatever form or guise.”
The convictions underscore the military’s resolve to clamp down on internal sabotage and reinforce accountability within the ranks as Nigeria continues its battle against insurgency and violent crime.
