Nigeria’s senior military leadership has attributed the surge in arms trafficking and violent insurgencies to ongoing conflicts in Libya and the broader Sahel region. The instability in these areas has facilitated the flow of weapons into Nigeria, exacerbating terrorism and crime within the country.
Major General Edward Buba, Nigeria’s Director of Defence Media Operations, made these remarks in response to recent statements by the country’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu had claimed that a significant portion of illegal weapons used in criminal activities originally belonged to the government, as reported by The Punch on Thursday.
Ribadu also alleged that members of Nigeria’s security forces, including soldiers and police officers, had been involved in selling government-issued weapons to criminal networks.
Addressing journalists, Major General Buba emphasized that the availability of illegal weapons in Nigeria is closely linked to the Libyan crisis and instability in the Sahel region. “To understand the spread of illegal weapons, one must look at what transpired in Libya years ago and the conditions in the Sahel,” Buba stated.
Buba added that terrorists also obtain arms by attacking and stealing weapons from security personnel.
In April, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, called on Libyan leaders to collaborate with Nigerian authorities to tackle the growing proliferation of small arms and light weapons. He also stressed the need to address drug trafficking from Libya to Nigeria.
According to Defense Post Africa, a publication affiliated with the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), experts believe that the illicit trade of small arms from Libya into Nigeria is growing rapidly, fueled by Libya’s fragmented security landscape.
Analysts argue that until these cross-border challenges are addressed, the illegal arms trade will continue to pose a major security threat to Nigeria.
