Ex-U.S. Army officer claims foreign powers back Nigeria’s bandits

Captain Bish Johnson (retd.), a former U.S. Army officer, has claimed that some foreign entities are supporting banditry in Nigeria.

Speaking in a televised interview, he said that not all sponsors are necessarily Nigerians.

“I believe there are foreign sponsors behind the kidnappings and abductions in our country. While attention is focused on these crimes, they are illegally exploiting Nigeria’s mineral resources, sometimes with the help of influential individuals,” Johnson said.

He added that these operations involve various people and groups working together for commercial purposes. “Banditry and kidnapping have become business ventures where people profit from the misfortune of others,” he explained.

Johnson also pointed to the unregulated mining of minerals in northern Nigeria and weaknesses along borders with Niger, Chad, and northern Cameroon as factors fueling the problem.

He urged that any allegations of complicity by Nigerian officials should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. “We should not dismiss these claims simply because of who is making them. Every piece of information should be properly examined,” he said.