Army Arrests Wanted Soldier Accused of Selling Military Equipment to Terrorists While Fleeing to Cameroon

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of a soldier, Private Mohammed Yusuf, who was declared wanted over allegations of selling military equipment to terrorists and other criminal elements.

The Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, revealing that Yusuf was apprehended at Jidari Motor Park in Maiduguri while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.

The Command’s spokesperson in the North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, said preliminary investigations revealed that the soldier absconded from his military base on July 7, 2026.

According to Goni, Yusuf subsequently went into hiding in the Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area before he was tracked down and arrested following credible intelligence.

He said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of Yusuf’s alleged involvement in the illegal activities and to establish whether other individuals were complicit.

“The investigation will also determine whether there are additional persons connected to the activities under investigation,” the statement noted.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and accountability, stressing that any personnel found to be involved in activities capable of undermining national security would be sanctioned in accordance with the law.

The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue providing security agencies with credible and timely information to support ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and other forms of criminality across the country.