A high-profile army officer of the Nigerian army deployed to Dandume, a local government area located in the suburb of Katsina State to restore stability and crush all terrorists, has been fingered in arms trading despite the inhumane atrocities committed by terrorist groups, namely armed bandits in northwestern Nigeria, where millions of people have been displaced, hundreds of thousands were killed, properties and belongings worth billions of naira have been destroyed, and unaccounted money has been paid as ransom.
The army officer, simply identified as Ade, was alleged to be colluding with bandits to supply ammunition, which is mostly used to launch attacks on locals and even security forces. Major Lawan Ibrahim (rtd), who is a leader of the Dandume community Vigilante group, alleged in a News Central documentary trailer titled “Katsina Resident Exposes Army Captain Colluding with Bandits”
The allegations are beyond arms trade, as Mr Ibrahim’s revelation exposes how an army officer, Capt Rabi’u, shockingly freed Saminu Muhammad, a bandit’s informer and a middleman caught red-handed with multiple rounds of ammunition, for just N100,000 paid by his family.
Heavenly, beyond the release of the suspect and arms trade, Daily Episode further heard Mr Ibrahim exposing the military for extortion; according to him, “During the harvesting period, soldiers deployed in Dandume usually connive with bandits to devour people’s farm proceeds through extortion.
The army usually collects money as their percentage before they grant access to deliver ransom to the bandits.” He said
How Saminu Was Arrested, Freed, and Re-Arrested
Saminu was arrested with multiple rounds of ammunition, which he confessed that an army officer, Ade, had given him to deliver to a bandit.
“For long, Saminu has been on our watch list following multiple allegations of his engagement with the terrorist groups,” Ibrahim, the vigilante officer, mentioned.
“After a few interrogations, we handed Saminu to the military, Captain Rabi’u to be precise, who was then the leader of the army stationed at Machika in Dandume.
I handed over both Saminu and the bullet to him while urging him to take the necessary actions against the aforementioned soldier for betraying the military and the nation. But, unfortunately, Saminu was released by Capt. Rabi’u.
However, upon getting information regarding the suspect’s release, I raised an alarm by calling the attention of a higher authority, which is Lt Colonel Aminu, the leader of the 17th Brigade officers, informing him about the situation that Saminu was released.
Lt Col Aminu assured me of contact with Cpt Rabi’u to verify the situation; some moments later, he called back as promised, claiming Saminu is still in custody and hadn’t been released. I was left with no option but to raise the alarm, to rightly say, No, he has been released.” Ibrahim added.
A Ransom or Bail Fee
“I paid money to Capt. Rabi’u to secure the release of my son,” Malam Muhammad Abubakar, father to the freed Saminu Muhammad, the suspected bandit’s informer and a middleman caught red-handed with multiple rounds of ammunition, confessed in the documentary.
“After negotiating with the captain Rabi’u, he agreed to our terms, and we contributed the N100,000 as promised. Then he asked if we should meet at a specific location in the Jankwano mechanic workshop, where I handed over the money to him; he counted it and promised to release my son. Indeed, he released him after the payment.” Abubakar recounts
Although Saminu was re-arrested after the vigilant leader raised the alarm, what is not known is where he is since the army re-arrested him, the reporter alleges.
The Nigerian military revealed that it had received a complaint regarding extortion, collaborating with bandits, and the release of an informant caught with live rounds of ammunition. In response to News Central Television, in a letter signed by Lt Col Appolonia Anele, the army’s acting public relations officer, dated 28 May 2025, as seen by Daily Episode after News Central shared it with the public.
The army explained that the information is a half-truth, even though they confirmed that their investigation had found one of its officers engaged in the illegal sale of ammunition to the suspect Saminu, for which the officer in question has been charged and tried before a court martial under the provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
Also, for the suspect, Saminu had since been handed over to the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the army response reads.
However, the army further explains that the extortion of the local and the release of Saminu, as claimed by the vigilant officer, Major Ibrahim (rtd), are misleading and false claims. The army responded.
What is left in silence is why News Central had not published the documentary on the fixed date.
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