Tinubu Faces Backlash Over Alleged Ties to Arrested Arms Dealer, Alexander Zingman

A resurfaced front page of News Diggers, dated March 24, 2021, has reignited fierce scrutiny around Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following his public acknowledgment of Alexander Zingman, his former classmate and neighbor at Chicago State University, who was once arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo for alleged arms trafficking. The bold headline from the Zambian publication read: “Alleged Arms Dealer, Lungu’s Ally Alexander Zingman Arrested in DRC,” reviving concerns over Zingman’s controversial past and fresh connections to Nigerian leadership.

Zingman, widely reported to be a close associate of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, was detained in Kinshasa in 2021 on suspicion of engaging in illegal arms deals across Central Africa. At the time, international reports detailed his alleged role as a shadowy intermediary in arms transfers, with implications for regional conflicts.

The controversy flared up anew after a viral video showed Tinubu introducing Zingman during a meeting in Nigeria, referring to him as both a schoolmate and a neighbor from his university days in Chicago. The clip triggered immediate backlash across social media platforms, with users expressing alarm over what they describe as the president’s proximity to individuals with questionable backgrounds.

Online critics quickly drew a line between Zingman’s documented history and Nigeria’s persistent security crisis, accusing Tinubu of poor judgment and dangerous affiliations. One post by user @blackgoldIfy went viral, reading: “Tinubu just brought an arms dealer to Nigeria? A so-called ‘president’? Tinubu is, without a doubt, a punishment to Nigeria… Drug dealers are friends with all types of criminals.”

So far, the Nigerian presidency has not issued any official response to the growing outrage, despite mounting calls for clarification. The silence from Aso Rock has only fueled further suspicion, particularly given the nation’s ongoing struggle with banditry, insurgency, and illicit arms proliferation.

Critics argue that Tinubu’s public embrace of Zingman, regardless of whether criminal charges were ever formally pressed—reflects poorly on the ethical standards of those within his political orbit. The episode adds to broader concerns over international reputational risk, especially as Nigeria seeks foreign investment and deeper security cooperation to combat its internal crises.

As digital footprints and media archives become increasingly accessible, leaders’ associations are now more transparent than ever—and more heavily scrutinized. In this case, Zingman’s resurfaced record and the president’s casual connection to him may represent more than just bad optics; they strike at the heart of governance credibility in Africa’s most populous nation.