The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has criticised certain members of the police and military for allegedly stealing and selling arms and ammunition from their formations to criminal elements.

Ribadu made the remarks in Abuja on Friday during a weapons destruction event organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

According to Ribadu, the security personnel involved in such acts are “the worst human beings” and called for urgent measures to prevent this behaviour.

He said, “We need to find a way to put a stop to this if we are to reclaim our country and live in peace and stability.”

He continued, “The worst kind of person is a policeman or soldier who takes arms from his own formation and sells them to criminals, enabling them to kill their own colleagues.”

Ribadu also condemned the actions of those security personnel who facilitate the movement of weapons to terrorists, bandits, and other non-state actors, disclosing that a significant portion of the illicit arms used in crimes across the country originated from government stockpiles.

Nigeria continues to grapple with severe security challenges across many regions. In the North-East, Boko Haram and other jihadist groups have waged a 15-year insurgency, claiming the lives of over 40,000 people.

In the Central and North-West regions, criminal gangs known as “bandits” have raided villages for years, killing, abducting residents, and burning homes after looting them.

Some analysts and officials have noted a growing alliance between these bandits and jihadist groups, particularly in central Niger State, where Boko Haram fighters recently killed two soldiers and vigilantes in Allawa village, forcing troops to withdraw and residents to flee.

While bandits are typically motivated by financial gain, their increasing collaboration with jihadists has raised serious concerns among experts and authorities.