Guns Amok

Insecurity in Nigeria is increasing and rapidly becoming an existential crisis challenging the nation’s foundation. According to the Nextier Violent Conflict Database, 2021 recorded 1173 incidents compared to 1683 in 2022, while five months into 2023, there were 573 incidents. While the spotlight may cursorily beam on the actors and victims, access to weapons, one of the factors of insecurity, has often evaded deep analysis. Despite security agencies’ efforts, armed conflicts are rising, pointing to the country’s easy access to small and light weapons (SALWs). In addition to escalating crises, illegal arms proliferations fuel crime, hinder economic and social development, and impede social stability and good governance. Some factors are attributed to the circulation of arms in Nigeria.

First is the local fabrication of weapons which became nationally prominent in 2003. This has continued to date, where locally-made pistols and weapons are often used in perpetrating violence by criminal gangs, and extremist groups employ locally-made pistols and weapons to carry out acts of violence. An incident in 2023 amongst many is the arrest of members of a cult group with an array of locally made weapons terrorising the Isoko North Local Government, Edo state. Illegal weapons factories have also been discovered in towns such as Enugu and Calabar. These factories have far-reaching effects, as findings from the National Small Arms and Light Weapons Survey reveal that locally manufactured weapons also contribute to a large percentage of arms in circulation in Northern Nigeria, especially in the Northcentral region.

Another factor amplifying free arms circulation is the porosity of state borders. Nigeria’s broad mass entails long boundaries that need to be effectually manned to ensure accountability for all entries and exits into the country while defending against potential external threats. However, efforts at controlling the borders and preventing illegal access to people and products have proven difficult. President Muhammadu Buhari pointed out that only God can secure the country’s vast borders from the activities of criminals. The Nigeria Immigration Service revealed that despite having 84 border routes, over 1,400 illicit routes exist. With these known illegal routes outnumbering the legal routes, illicit arms proliferation has run amok with the smuggling of arms and ammunition while also carrying out frequent attacks on security armoury to cart away arms. These illicit acts continue to exacerbate the security situation in Nigeria.

Efforts to manage the menace have remained a challenge. Despite passing a bill to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, armed conflicts with illegal weapons continue to characterise many parts of the country. The proliferation of light weapons and illicit arms trafficking poses a major threat to Nigeria’s peace, security and development. As such, a comprehensive approach through sub-regional programmes to tackle illegal arms trafficking should be in place with a special focus on border states. While it remains difficult stemming the local fabrication of weapons, severe sanctions and punishment for producers and suppliers of weapons should be in place to serve as a deterrent to others.