Senator Orji Kalu, a member of Nigeria’s upper chamber representing Abia North, publicly disclosed that he was once an international arms dealer, selling heavy weapons to any country or buyer that could pay, before he eventually stopped the trade.
Kalu, who has served in the Senate since 2023, said his involvement in the arms market pre‑dated his political career. He described the operation as “selling arms to anyone with money,” indicating that transactions were not limited by the identity of the purchaser.
"I sold arms to anyone with money," Kalu said, confirming that his former business dealt in heavy weaponry for any buyer who could afford it.
The admission comes against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about illicit arms flows in West Africa. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has grappled with the challenge of curbing illegal weapons trafficking that fuels conflict and crime across the region.
While Kalu did not specify when he ceased his arms‑dealing activities or detail any legal repercussions, his revelation may prompt further scrutiny of past commercial dealings by public officials in Nigeria.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>