Update: Nigerian Navy Distances Itself From Officer Who Alleged Chadian Soldiers Sell Their Guns When Broke

Commodore Jamila Sadiq Abubakar

Following the allegations levelled against the Chadian soldiers that it engages in illegal arms selling by Commodore Jamila Sadiq Abubakar, the Nigerian Navy has distanced itself.

Abubakar made the allegation while contributing to a bill seeking to establish the National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

In a statement released on Tuesday September 28, barely 24 hours after the public hearing which was organized by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, the spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, Suleman Dahun said the view of the officer does not reflect the position of the Navy.

The Nigerian Navy further stated that it appreciates the indelible contributions of "our regional partners/neighbors in the fight against small arms and light weapon trafficking."

The statement read;

 “The House of Representative Committee on National Security and Intelligence yesterday 27 September, 2021 held a public hearing on 4 Bills including the Bill for an Acts to establish the National Commission against proliferation of small arms and light weapons (HB 10). During the hearing on this bill, the representatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) duly presented the position of the personal comments on the service on the proposed act but went ahead to make some unauthorized, personal comments on the issue of trans-national trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

“This is as it relates to neighbors with which Nigeria maintains robust diplomatic security relationships/collaboration, a personal opinion that is at variance with the person of the NN.

 “The NN wishes to categorically dissociate itself from the view of the senior officer. The NN appreciates the indelible contributions of our regional partners/Neighbors in the fight against small arms and light weapon trafficking.”