A Nigerian soldier is arrested for tipping off criminals – but does it go deeper?

A Nigerian soldier has been arrested over allegations he supplied military uniforms to “terrorist” and “criminal” groups, the army says. Private Mohammed Yusuf was caught on Saturday evening at a bus stop in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, military spokesperson Mohammed Goni said the following day. The soldier, who was previously stationed at a factory for army equipment, was allegedly attempting to flee across the border into neighbouring Cameroon.

He deserted his unit earlier this month, Goni said, before relocating to Maiduguri, where he went into hiding with the help of an “associate”. Yusuf has not publicly commented on the case against him, but the arrest has reignited speculation that collusion could be the reason behind rampant insecurity in the country. A variety of armed groups – including militant Islamists, separatists and gangs who kidnap civilians for ransom – have been causing problems for the authorities, and some of them deceptively wear military uniforms.

Now, in a nation that for over a decade has been blighted by armed attacks on civilians, people are wondering whether these assaults are failing to subside because criminal elements and security personnel are working together. It is not unreasonable to believe some of these groups are being assisted by military personnel, Bashir Galma, a security analyst and retired army major, told the BBC. “I know there have been instances where plans are made for an attack on a location and the information finds its way to either [militant Islamist group] Boko Haram or another criminal gang,” he said, suggesting an insider tip-off.