Nigerian Army has denied any recent involvement in the arrest of a foreign arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachalla, whose video confession went viral on social media.
Gatekeepers News reports in a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army clarified that the arrest was not linked to any recent military operation and that no Nigerian Army personnel were arrested or indicted in the case.
According to the Army, Kachalla, a 30-year-old Nigerien national, was arrested by the Zamfara State Police Command on May 14, 2021, in a joint intelligence-led operation involving operatives of the FIB and the STS of the Nigeria Police Force. The suspect confessed to having illegally supplied over 450 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition to criminal elements across Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States.
The Army described the resurgence of the old video as an attempt to misinform the public and undermine ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry efforts.
“The Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional conduct, and where there are proven cases of such involving its personnel, appropriate disciplinary actions are always taken in line with the Armed Forces Act and other extant military regulations,” the statement added.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and its resolve to defend the nation’s territorial integrity. It urged the public to disregard the recycled footage and cautioned social media influencers and content creators against spreading unverified or outdated materials that could cause panic or confusion
