Army Debunks Viral Video on Arrest of Foreign Arms Dealer, Says Footage is Old
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims circulating on social media suggesting the recent arrest of a foreign arms trafficker, Shehu Ali Kachalla, dismissing the viral video as outdated and misleading.
In the video, which resurfaced online this week, Kachalla is seen being paraded by the police, confessing to supplying over 450 rifles to various criminal gangs across Nigeria’s north-west region, allegedly with the aid of unidentified military personnel.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army clarified that the video dates back to May 2021 and is unrelated to any current military operations. She emphasized that no personnel of the Nigerian Army were arrested or indicted in connection with the case.
“The Nigerian Army is aware of a video currently circulating on various social media platforms purporting to show the arrest of a foreign arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachalla, as a recent development linked to Nigerian Army operations in Zamfara State,” the statement read in part.
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“To set the record straight, the individual in the footage, Kachalla, a 30-year-old Nigerien national, was arrested by the Zamfara State Police Command on May 14, 2021, during a joint intelligence-led operation involving the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force.”
The Army further noted that Kachalla had confessed to supplying more than 450 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition to criminal elements operating in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States.
According to Anele, the reemergence of the video is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine the ongoing counterterrorism and anti-banditry campaigns by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
She reiterated the Army’s commitment to upholding professionalism and accountability, stating that any proven misconduct involving its personnel is dealt with decisively in accordance with military laws.
“The Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional conduct. Where there are proven cases involving any personnel, appropriate disciplinary measures are enforced in line with the Armed Forces Act and other extant military regulations,” she added.
Anele also cautioned social media users, influencers, and content creators against the spread of outdated or unverified information that could incite panic or erode public confidence in security institutions.
She reaffirmed the Army’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and pledged continued collaboration with other security agencies and local communities to combat insecurity nationwide.
By PRNigeria
