Navy Commodore Abubakar, accuses Chadian army of selling arms to terrorists

•Navy disowns statement

Nigerian Navy Commodore Jemila Abubakar has accussed chadian army of supplying Nigeria terrorists with arms as low as $20 per rifle.

It was learnt that Abubakar had during the public hearing alleged that arms donated to some African countries end up in Nigeria, noting that some Chadian army officers sell the guns in black market for as low as $20 when they are broke.

It was gathered she made the wild allegation while representing the Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, at the hearing.

However, the Nigerian Navy has distanced itself from the comment made by
Abubakar during the public hearing.

In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Nigeria Navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun, added although Abubakar presented the position of the Navy on the proposed Act, but her comments on small arms trafficking were unauthorised and personal.

The statement further reads: “During the hearing on this bill, the representative of the Nigerian Navy duly presented the position of the Service on the proposed Act but went ahead to make some unauthorised, personal comments on the issue of trans-national trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

“This is as it relates to neighbours with which Nigeria maintains robust diplomatic security relationships/collaborations; a personal opinion that is at variance with the position 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/neighbours in the fight against small arms and light weapons trafficking.

“Pertinently, effective and sustained regional cooperation towards ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is a key priority of the NN.

“Against this background, the Service acknowledges the regional security efforts of our neighbouring countries within the existing frameworks of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and commits to working assiduously to strengthen these arrangements.”