Gunrunning in Nigeria

The security concerns in Nigeria mostly focus on the violent attacks and the casualties. However, a salient issue is the movement of weapons used to orchestrate violent acts. Acts of gunrunning have existed for decades but have become more alarming, considering the current security situation in the country. As more criminal activities and networks emerge, gun demands surge alongside it. Furthermore, increasing security threats may lead to a need for self-defence, which will mean more demand for guns.

In a Nextier publication titled Guns Amok, local fabrication of weapons fed into the demand for guns by various armed groups. Findings from the National Small Arms and Light Weapons survey reveal that locally manufactured weapons contribute to a large percentage of arms circulating in Northern Nigeria, especially in the Northcentral region. Also, the porous borders have fuelled the proliferation illegal arms within the country. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) 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.

Within the Nigerian borders, there have been interceptions of gunrunning syndicates. An interception in July 2023 by the troops of the Nigerian army uncovered a truckload of ammunition reportedly heading to the Southeast from Ogun state. The volatile security situation in Southeast Nigeria, especially violent secessionism and gunmen menace interceptions of this nature, is vital in addressing the unrest in the region. In April 2023, troops of the Operation Forest Sanity intercepted ammunitions being supplied to bandits in Kaduna state. The Department State Service (DSS) made a similar interception in June 2023 at Keffi Local Government Area in Nasarawa state.

Allegations of some security agents’ connivance also trailed the subject of gunrunning in Nigeria. A soldier arrested for allegedly hiring guns to kidnappers point to a dent in the Nigeria security apparatus that needs addressing. Other arrests in the year 2022 buttress the allegations of some security agents’ connivance, revealing the depth and reach of the gunrunning menace that has fuelled violent conflicts within the country. Apart from the seemingly weak security apparatus, which has provided room for gunrunning, the industry’s lucrativeness is one of the driving factors motivation behind the gunrunning menace. According to an arrested gunrunner, six AK47 rifles were sold for 800,000 each.

The proliferation of arms caused by porous national borders, as well as a thriving gunrunning economy, are some of the primary elements fuelling Nigeria’s security concerns. This has been worsened by some security agents’ collusion in weaponry sales, which has been a major dent in addressing the security concerns in the country. Gunrunning 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. There is a need for enhanced cooperation between security agencies for intelligence gathering and effective security aimed towards limiting illegal local arms production and sales. There is also a need for the use of technology by the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service at the borders to identify and curb the inflow of illegal arms.