The Nigerian Army has dismissed as “outdated and misleading” a video circulating on social‑media platforms that claims troops recently apprehended a Nigerien arms trafficker, Shehu Ali Kachalla, in Zamfara State.
In a statement issued today, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt‑Col Appolonia Anele, clarified that the clip in question was recorded more than four years ago. “The individual shown—Shehu Ali Kachalla, 30—was arrested on 14 May 2021 by men of the Zamfara State Police Command during a joint operation with the Federal Intelligence Bureau and the Special Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police Force,” she said.
Kachalla reportedly confessed at the time to supplying over 450 rifles and “thousands of rounds of ammunition” to criminal gangs operating in Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states.
The army spokesperson described the video’s re‑emergence as an attempt to sow confusion and undermine ongoing counter‑terrorism and anti‑banditry operations. “No Nigerian Army personnel were arrested or indicted in connection with the 2021 case,” Lt‑Col Anele emphasized, adding that the service maintains a “zero‑tolerance policy for unprofessional conduct.”
She urged the public to ignore the recycled content and advised content creators to verify the authenticity and date of materials before sharing them “to avoid unnecessary panic.”
The Nigerian Army, she said, remains committed to its constitutional mandate to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and will continue to work closely with other security agencies and local communities to combat terrorism, banditry and related crimes.
