A soldier of the Nigerian Army, Umar Bema, is in custody and under prosecution after being connected to robbery-related incidents across in Borno State.
The military disclosed that Bema disappeared with a service rifle and moved across several communities and evading military oversight, taking his service weapon with him and remained unaccounted for over a prolonged period and allegedly indulged in robbery activities.
Following his disappearance, personnel of the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division Provost Group launched a targeted operation that led to his arrest after tracking him to a family residence in Maiduguri.
During his arrest, troops reportedly recovered the missing rifle along with two AK-47 magazines believed to have been in his possession.
A military source further disclosed that the suspect moved through multiple communities during the period he was absent from duty while engaging in robbery operations.
Moreover, the military source described the arrest as part of efforts to enforce discipline within the ranks, stressing that accountability remains central to military professionalism.
As of the time of filing this report, the soldier is being held in military custody as investigations continue, with disciplinary processes expected to follow based on the outcome of findings.