Barely two weeks after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested a Nigerian soldier attached to the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Tungan-Maje in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly renting out and selling guns to kidnappers a serving Nigerian Army private, Emmanuel Iorliam of the 156 Task Force Battalion, Dake Mainok, Operation Hadin Kai in Borno state has been arrested while attempting to steal several bullets out of his base.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that Emmanuel Iorliam, who hails from Benue state was caught while going out of his operation base by his colleagues on suspicion of his movement and dressing on Tuesday morning by eagle-eyed soldiers.
In a video obtained by Nigeriacrime.com, the dissident soldier kept the bullets in a belt like khaki and tied it around his waist.
A senior military officer name withheld explained that the likes of the soldiers will no more have a field day because, “as a security precaution and suspicion that there are dissidents within, the military authority has given an order that all personnel going out of his or her base must be searched.
The arrested soldier is believed to be one of many dissidents in the military stealing and selling arms and ammunition to Bandits and terrorists.
It will be recalled that the suspect, in the first deal, had allegedly hired out a gun for a kidnap operation for N300,000.
Reacting to the arrest, Bertha Ogbimi Program Officer, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) said that when those saddled with the responsibility of protecting us are now becoming our nightmare. This whole thing is as frustrating as it can ever be.”
“Nepotism: The idea of favouring people with jobs in the security sector just for the sake of earning a living, and has nothing to do with the desire to make positive changes happen.
Recruitment process: I had the opportunity of interviewing a security officer while conducting research. She narrated the process she went through to get the job. The sector conducted a thorough check on her behind her. They made sure she had no previous criminal records, took records of her activities before applying for the job and made her get credible people to recommend her.
Are these processes still in place?”
“Welfare: let’s not over-flog this because it’s obvious they ain’t well cared for both in terms of remuneration, field allowances, health checks, weapons, etc.
Impunity: Colleagues getting involved in those shady deals are walking away smiling to the bank, unpunished. They and their families are living large and being celebrated. The benefits are brandished for others to see and be emboldened.
The economic situation of the country generally is also an enabler because people must survive anyway.”
“The entire sector needs to be revamped. The military is used to being in charge of governance, they controlled the system and dictated what happened.
Suddenly, it’s looking like they are no longer relevant in the affairs of government. It’s not easy to adapt to change”, she added