Gunrunner Says He Was Escorted By Soldiers To Supply 450 Rifles, 8,000 Ammunition To Bandits

A 30-year-old notorious arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachala, has confessed to selling weapons to criminal gangs across Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States with the alleged backing of a military personnel.

In his statement, Kachala revealed that he had been importing rifles and live ammunition from Niger Republic for the past three years. He disclosed that he supplied 450 rifles and 8,000 rounds of ammunition to different bandit groups, often moving the weapons under the protection of a soldier who provided him cover at checkpoints.

The suspect further admitted that each rifle was sold between ₦600,000 and ₦1 million, depending on the type, while ammunition was sold at ₦1,100 per round. He added that he made at least ₦300,000 profit on each rifle sold.

Kachala was arrested by operatives of the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB) in Gusau, Zamfara State. His confession has once again raised questions about how criminal groups in Nigeria continue to gain access to sophisticated weapons despite ongoing security operations.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing, as security experts warn that the constant influx of arms from neighboring countries continues to fuel banditry and insecurity across the northwest.