Balogun: Faith loyalties, internal betrayal fueling Nigeria’s insecurity

A former Nigerian Air Force officer, Ayo Balogun, has warned that religious loyalties and divided allegiances within Nigeria’s security and political systems are deepening the country’s fight against terrorism and endangering national security.

Speaking in Abuja, Balogun said that while corruption and arms trafficking among security personnel have long been concerns, the more dangerous threat lies in the growing influence of religious bias within the ranks.

“Some revelations are showing that commanders and top officials are selling weapons to Boko Haram, but it’s not just about money,” he said.

“Religion has become a key factor sustaining the insurgency.”

According to him, religious extremism poses a more complex challenge than economic-based conflicts such as the Niger Delta militancy, which could be resolved through negotiations and incentives.

“You can negotiate with economic militants if you offer them training or compensation. But when the motivation is religious, it becomes an issue of belief and conviction — something no amount of money can change,” Balogun said.

He described religious and territorial conflicts as the two most dangerous forms of crises, warning that both can easily destroy nations if not properly managed.

Citing reports of army officers caught selling weapons to insurgents, Balogun suggested that such betrayals often stem from misplaced sympathies.

“A soldier who sees insurgents as religious brothers already has a conflict of interest,” he noted.

“They are human beings before they are soldiers, that’s what makes the war so complicated.”

Balogun added that the problem extends beyond the military, implicating some politicians who, he said, hesitate to confront extremists decisively because of shared religious or ideological ties.

Drawing comparisons, he explained that conflicts driven by economic or political interests — like those in Sierra Leone, Congo, or the Niger Delta could be resolved through dialogue and amnesty programmes. But religious wars, he said, “don’t bend easily.”

He cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s handling of the Bakassi Peninsula dispute with Cameroon as an example of how diplomacy can avert bloodshed.

“If Obasanjo hadn’t gone to the World Court and accepted the ruling, we’d still be fighting today,” he said.

Balogun also attributed the resilience of Boko Haram to foreign ideological and financial support, especially from extremist networks in the Middle East.

“Intelligence reports have long shown that much of the funding for religious extremism in Nigeria comes from abroad,” he said.

“External actors exploit our porous borders and weak internal controls to destabilise the country.”

He urged the military to uphold professionalism and allegiance to the Constitution above personal or religious sentiments, warning that divided loyalty within the armed forces could prolong the insurgency indefinitely.

“The only hope is professionalism,” he emphasised. “Once a soldier allows religion to influence his duty, the war is already lost.”

Balogun’s remarks follow recent revelations that some Nigerian soldiers have been caught diverting weapons meant for frontline operations to insurgents and bandits. Several have faced court-martial for aiding the enemy.

A soldier recently redeployed from Maiduguri, Borno State, disclosed that he buried unused ammunition in the forest to avoid being accused of diversion, admitting that others routinely smuggle weapons into the black market.

Another officer confirmed the arrest of troops caught selling arms to Boko Haram fighters, describing the act as “a grave betrayal that endangers everyone.”

The disturbing trend aligns with warnings by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, who last year condemned internal sabotage within the security system. Ribadu revealed that many weapons used by terrorists and bandits were originally government-issued arms diverted by corrupt officers.

“The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is one of the biggest threats to our national security,” Ribadu said at the destruction of seized arms in Abuja.

“These betrayals come from within from merchants of death operating both inside and outside our country.”

Balogun concluded that until Nigeria tackles the twin issues of divided loyalty and corruption within its security institutions, efforts to defeat insurgency and restore peace will remain an uphill battle.