ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov. 18 (UPI) — The president of Nigeria ordered the arrest of a military officer for stealing more than $2 billion that was supposed to be used to fight Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group.
Retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, 61, national security adviser to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, is accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy four fighter jets, 12 helicopters and assorted ammunition destined for the fight against the Boko Haram, on an election platform which included an investigation of alleged corruption in the previous administration, alleges purchasing agreements described as “failed contracts” amounted to over 13.7 billion Nigerian naira, or nearly $2.4 billion.
Dasuki denied the charges. He was already under house arrest, for allegedly possessing illegal weapons, when the allegations were announced on Tuesday.
Nigerian soldiers have reported they are better equipped to fight Boko Haram since Buhari took office. A spokesman for Buhari said the corruption in the Nigerian military has been responsible for the needless deaths of thousands of citizens as the army attempts to rid the country of Boko Haram insurgents.
Boko Haram has waged a violent campaign to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria. At least 32 people were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked a vegetable market in the city of Yola.
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