Fresh concerns have emerged over the deep-rooted interests allegedly sustaining insecurity in Nigeria after a serving soldier raised alarm over what he described as the influence of powerful cabals benefiting from terrorism and a network of illegal businesses.
According to the soldier, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals, the country’s prolonged security crisis is being fuelled not only by armed groups operating in the forests and border regions but also by influential individuals allegedly profiting from the instability.
The claims add to a growing body of allegations made over the years by security personnel, retired military officers, government officials and investigators who have suggested that terrorism, banditry, illegal mining, oil theft and arms trafficking are sustained by powerful interests operating behind the scenes.
The soldier alleged that criminal networks thrive because certain individuals benefit financially from the continued conflict, creating what he described as a system where insecurity has become a lucrative enterprise. He called for a thorough investigation into those suspected of financing or facilitating violent groups across the country.
His warning echoes previous concerns raised by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, who acknowledged that evidence existed of military personnel collaborating with terrorists and bandits, describing such actions as a serious threat to national security.
The allegations also come amid recurring reports of illegal mining operations, oil theft and weapons diversion, all of which security experts have identified as major sources of funding for criminal and insurgent networks. Nigerian authorities have in the past linked illegal mining activities to the financing of terrorism and banditry, while investigations have uncovered cases involving security personnel accused of aiding criminal groups.
Although the soldier’s claims remain allegations, they underscore persistent questions surrounding the forces enabling terrorism to survive despite years of military operations and billions of naira spent on security.
As Nigeria continues its battle against insurgency, banditry and organised crime, the latest revelations are likely to intensify calls for greater transparency, accountability and a renewed focus on identifying those who profit from a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
For many Nigerians, the allegations revive an unsettling question: whether the greatest threat to the fight against terrorism lies only on the battlefield—or within the powerful networks accused of keeping the war alive.