Africa-Press. Nigerian military authorities have arrested a soldier after he was accused of supplying groups labeled by the government as “terrorist” and criminal with military uniforms, in a case that has reignited the debate over the potential collusion within security agencies with armed groups operating in the country.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian army, Muhammad Goni, announced that soldier Muhammad Yusuf was apprehended on Saturday evening at a bus station in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, while attempting to flee to neighboring Cameroon.
The army clarified that Yusuf had previously worked at a military equipment factory and had left his military unit earlier this month before moving to Maiduguri, where he hid with the help of one of his associates until authorities managed to arrest him.
No comment has been made by the soldier regarding the accusations against him, but the case has once again raised questions about the extent of armed groups’ infiltration into the military institution, especially since many of these groups, including Boko Haram and the West Africa Province of ISIS, as well as kidnapping gangs, have been known to use military uniforms to deceive civilians and carry out their attacks.
Northeastern Nigeria has been suffering from escalating violence perpetrated by armed groups for over a decade, alongside kidnapping gangs targeting civilians for ransom, amid repeated allegations of collaborators within security agencies.
Security analyst and retired officer Bashir Galma stated that the belief in the existence of army elements providing support to some armed groups is not unfounded, noting that information about military operations has sometimes leaked to Boko Haram or criminal gangs before they are executed, suggesting the presence of internal sources conveying information.
Data from the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission indicates that there have been at least 3,000 reported kidnappings and 3,580 murders committed by armed groups between January 2024 and April 2025.
Additionally, the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) reported that the country witnessed 26 major attacks on schools between April 2014 and May 2026, resulting in the abduction of at least 2,416 students, while authorities estimate that armed groups earn millions of dollars annually from ransom payments.
In April 2025, the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, accused the presence of informants and collaborators with Boko Haram within the armed forces, political class, and local communities, calling for enhanced intelligence operations and firm action against those involved.
Later, a special military court sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment after they were convicted of involvement in a weapons and ammunition smuggling network, having been found guilty of theft, illegal arms trafficking, and aiding the enemy.
Security analysts believe that low salaries for some military personnel, along with ideological motivations among a limited number of individuals, may contribute to some engaging in illegal activities or collaborating with armed groups.
One soldier, speaking to the BBC on the condition of anonymity, admitted that there have been instances of military personnel colluding with armed groups, but stated that such cases are often handled internally without public disclosure.
Several kidnapping victims recounted experiences that reinforced their suspicions of collusion between certain security personnel and the kidnappers. One released victim, after his family paid a ransom of 57 million naira, reported seeing security personnel shaking hands and laughing with the kidnappers after his release, although he acknowledged he had no evidence to prove they received a portion of the ransom.
A farmer named Yahouza Issa, who had previously been kidnapped in Zamfara State, claimed to know the whereabouts of some criminals, questioning why they have not been eliminated completely.
Another survivor recounted hearing a helicopter land multiple times near his detention camp, initially believing it had come to rescue the hostages, only for the aircraft to leave without conducting any operation, which raised his suspicions of a higher level of logistical cooperation with the gangs.
Security expert Abdullah Abdullah stated that armed groups rely not only on collaborators within security agencies but also on a network of civilian informants, considering this one of the reasons for the ongoing security crisis in the country.
Observers believe that the arrest of soldier Muhammad Yusuf reflects the army’s acknowledgment of breaches within its ranks, but the extent to which this acknowledgment translates into effective measures to combat corruption and collusion remains to be tested.
The army confirmed that Yusuf remains in custody as investigations continue to uncover the extent of his activities and whether other parties are involved in the case.
