Amid denial, northern youths want corruption allegation against Buratai, others probed

The Northern Youths Movement (NYM) has demanded immediate investigation of the allegation of missing arms funds made by the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd), against the immediate past Service Chiefs.

General Abayomi Olonisakin, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who recently retired as Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff respectively, were appointed as non-career ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NSA had reportedly said in an interview with the BBC Hausa that “neither the money approved by Buhari for arm purchase nor arms was met on ground when the new service chiefs assumed office.

“The fact is that preliminary investigation showed the funds are missing and the equipment is nowhere to be found. When the new service chiefs assumed office, they also said they did not see anything on ground,” the NSA was quoted to have said.

He had since denied that, claiming that he was misquoted.

However, in its reaction, the NYM in a release issued in Abuja and signed by its Chairman, Mallam Ishaya Jato, said, “With the revelation by the NSA, it should be clear to all discerning minds that insecurity in the country, especially in the North has become more like a cash-cow for top officials of the military.”

The youths also alleged that the NSA cannot be exonerated from the missing arms fund.

The statement read in detail, “Nigerians will recollect that we accused the military of complicity in the abduction of over 300 students of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. We went further to call for the removal of the NSA, General Babagana Monguno (rtd), because it beat our imagination how it was possible for bandits to have attacked the school, which is located less than 100 metres to a military checkpoint and abduct over 300 schoolgirls successfully.

“With the revelation coming from the NSA, haven’t we now been vindicated? Isn’t it now clear enough that the reason Boko Haram insurgency and banditry have refused to end in the north is because top military officials are feeding fat on it?

It is, therefore, not enough for the NSA to just approbate and reprobate at the same time. Nigerians want to know where the $1 billion taken from the Excess Crude Account is.

“Nigerians want to know how someone like General Buratai was able to acquire mansions in Dubai and other places.

Most importantly, those who made so much noise over what is now known as Dasuki arms deal must also begin to speak up on this new Monguno arms deal as one should not be seen as being bigger than the other.”