Five men are standing before a Nigerian court facing terrorism charges after the federal government accused them of attempting to supply smuggled weapons to a Boko Haram member in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the government, the arms were brought into Nigeria from Niger Republic before authorities moved to intercept the alleged supply chain. The case puts a spotlight on the porous border routes that security agencies have long flagged as entry points for illegal weapons flowing into the country's north.
The prosecution of the five suspects signals that federal authorities are pushing to trace arms networks beyond the battlefield and into the supply lines that keep them running.
Originally published by Premium Times.