Boko Haram gets a shot in the arm from officials

Nigeria’s military says some officers are selling arms and ammunition to Boko Haram indicating the corruption bedevilling the country’s fight against the Islamic extremists continues despite government efforts to halt graft.

The admission comes three weeks after the Nigerian army said a military tribunal is trying 16 officers and troops accused of offences related to the fight against Boko Haram, including the theft and sale of ammunition.

Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, the theatre commander in northeastern Nigeria, told a news conference on Thursday that military authorities have confirmed that some soldiers are selling arms and ammunition to Boko Haram. He called it a betrayal.

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed corruption for the deaths of thousands in the Islamic uprising that has killed more than 20,000. Meanwhile, the police say gunmen have kidnapped 15 oil workers near Nigeria’s petroleum capital of Port Harcourt in the latest apparent hostage-for-ransom incident.