A Nigerian military captain has raised concerns over the growing security challenges in the country, blaming the integration of so-called repentant bandits and terrorists into the military for their continued success in evading capture.
The captain, who spoke on a viral video trending online, said these former militants use insider knowledge to outsmart military operations, making it harder for the security forces to defeat them.
“This is why the bandits keep winning. They are among us now, working within our ranks and sharing our strategies with their criminal groups,” the officer said.
The Nigerian government has on several occasions offered amnesty and rehabilitation programs to repentant bandits as part of efforts to reduce violence in troubled regions. However, this revelation suggests that some of those integrated may still have links to criminal networks, which undermines security efforts.
Security experts warn that without proper screening and monitoring, integrating former bandits into the military could pose serious risks to national safety. The military is yet to respond to the captain’s claims.
