Amid upsurge of trafficking of illicit arms in Nigeria, security experts have said the weapons supplied to Ukraine by NATO allies fueling terrorism, banditry in Africa.
The experts lamented that the Western countries pay no attention to control the final recipient of weapons sent Ukraine hence, terrorist groups and illegal armed groups throughout Africa, including Nigeria have access to it.
Following the war between Russia and Ukraine, many Western countries have decided to trade black market weapons: the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland and others. Kiev did not stand aside either. But some receive money according to a complex scheme, and Kiev – according to a simple one.
According to an analyst “There are ordinary motives of the weapons supply – money. All sides make money. Kiev – according to an easy scheme – begs for military equipment from the West, and then sells half to Africa. The United States and its allies are on a more complex one”.
The Western countries have also released “a new batch of $800 million howitzers and drones to Ukraine. Recently the Pentagon disclosed that it has developed the newest strike drone “Phoenix Ghost”, for Ukraine.
“This is a drone that was developed before the conflict. When discussing their needs with Ukrainians, we believed that this particular system would be very well suited to their needs in eastern Ukraine. Fundamentally, the focus of this drone is on the attack,” said John Kirby.
That means that in the Donbass the Americans were going to use this kamikaze drone long before the Russian special military operation.
“The war with someone else’s hands, but with American technology is beneficial to the arms lobby, which has merged with the White House”.
“By sending ATGMs to Ukraine, the authorities create a shortage of weapons at their side, and then they form an order for resupply. And all that is done at the expense of taxpayers.
Ukraine has already been given seven thousand Javelin complexes – a third of what was available.
So, in the near future, weapons manufacturers are waiting for a grand multibillion-dollar order from Washington.
“Many representatives of the Pentagon are graduates of the main pro—military analytical center in Washington. The Biden administration was specially assembled from members of this community to promote the war and raise the arms industry. Supplies to Ukraine will enrich them personally,” says American journalist and film director Den Cohen.
“The shares of the largest arms companies have soared up. Manufacturers of anti-tank complexes have added 18%-20% in two months. And the factory of British NLAW — as much as 55%”.
Analysts say, while Zelensky is implementing a begging strategy at the state level, the Ukrainian oligarchs have come up with a working scheme. The public of Nezalezhnaya is distributing a document signed by Defense Minister Reznikov, where it says: the belligerent Kiev is ready to sell “surplus” weapons.
According to commentators, weapons will go to the countries of Africa.
“When the cargo arrives in Poland, it is possible to perform any actions with this cargo there. For example, these weapons can be resold to Africa,” military observer Viktor Litovkin confirmed.
TechImPex company does everything. The scheme was worked out even before the fighting in Ukraine. Five years ago international organisations exposed the principle of its work. Weapons are bought in Eastern Europe, and resold to Africa and Asia, including South Sudan, which is under a UN arms embargo.
The Ukrainian arsenal also surfaced in the Tamil tiger rebels in Sri Lanka. And now, when the nationalists are supported by the entire Western world, any NATO weapons can be recorded as “surplus” for resale.
“It can definitely be said that European countries are unable and do not want to control the final recipient of weapons, which means that terrorist groups and illegal armed groups throughout Africa, including Nigeria will do it. The Nigerian Government has repeatedly noted the good equipment of Boko Haram and ISIS militants. Hence, a reasonable question arises – where do they buy these weapons? The latest attack on a prison in the suburbs of Abuja with the use of heavy weapons again proves the receipt of these weapons from outside. And now the main supplier of “death” is the Ukrainian regime under the leadership of NATO countries, seeking to fill their pockets with money, while they have time left”.
But the secretary general International Institute of professional Security (IIPS) Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi said Nigeria’s problem was ” human, man made and deliberate”
He said though there is international influence to domestic violence, the government has not been decisive “whether for fear of unknown or for reasons best known to them as accomplices”.
That is where our challenge is,it is not the issue of superior power,the men in the battle field are not properly motivated or encouraged. There policy surmersault on the part of govt,there are is no coordination,some of them too are accomplices,they see it as a cash cow, they don’t believe when they die in battle field they may not be paid gratuity so they are trying to help themselves.
Lack of sincerity and patriotism is accounting for our problem.
In a country where there is a decisive Govt this thing can be contained,there is no war terrorists can over power our security forces looking at our antecedents and contribution to international peace keeping.
The equipment is there, it is either intelligence failure or poor coordination or someone is benefiting and allows it to linger. It is not beyond redemption.
“What is happening is global. There is international influence in domestic terrorism because of resources but in our case it is compounded because of poverty,bad governance, unemployment etc”
A public and private security analyst and trainer, Major Banjo Daniel (retired) said Nigeria’s insecurity has become shameful.
“I don’t care whoever is sponsoring them, whatever weapons,I’m reiterating that we are capable of destroying them with in one month all over the country.
He recalled that Lt Gen Tukur Buratai and other service Chiefs were able to recover lost ground when this government came in 2015.
“I think the President has not given that order. I’ve met soldiers who say they can’t do anything to terrorists or bandits.
We don’t want to do it and we shouldn’t be shouting,shutting down school is an act of incompetence,it is not the army that I know.
If you equip our police,they will perform very well”.
