Nine serving Generals in the Nigerian Army and other senior military officers are now under investigation for their alleged role in the sale of arms to members of the Boko Haram sect.

They are also fingered in the movement of weapons and Army armouries in some northern states, according to a report Nigerian Pilot.

The paper quoted an unnamed top security chief as confirming to it yesterday that the military authorities had made progress in the investigation of the affected Army officers, adding that they would soon be court-martialed.

The source reportedly attributed the delay in their arraignment before a military court to the concentration of activities on how to rescue the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram sect.

According to the source, some detained Boko Haram suspects allegedly named the Generals and other military officers as supplying them arms, Nigerian Pilot said.

“He explained that the military High Command would only make the matter public after concluding its internal checks to ensure that there are no loose ends,” the paper said, adding:

“The security chief said that the Nigerian Army, headed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, in conjunction with other military top brass was working tirelessly to sanitise the armed forces and fish out collaborators with insurgents.”

The source, according to the report, hinted that the Army Chief had been briefed on the Generals’ arms deals with the insurgents, adding that “he (Army Chief) is currently carrying out a secret and independent investigation on the matter.”

Continuing, Nigerian Pilot said: “A few months ago, a soldier had told a foreign news agency that some top military chiefs were colluding with Boko Haram sect in their raging offensive in the North-East.

“In a swift reaction, The Defence Headquarters described the allegations as grave and promised to investigate the claims. The outcome of the probe is yet to be made public by the authorities as well as the names of the affected Generals.

“The insurgents operate with local and sophisticated weapons such as Improvised Explosives Devices, IEDs, AK-47rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.

“A United States, US Network TV, NBC, recently reported that most of the terror group’s weapons were either stolen from Nigerian military stocks or purchased from the thriving Central African arms black market.”

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah.