Rising Insecurity in Nigeria is reportedly directly associated with the surge in the number of small arms circulating within the country and its borders. A recent report by SB Morgan revealed that there have been 130 cases of small arms and a resulting 676 fatalities recorded from 2019 to mid-2024. According to the report, the North-East part of the country had the highest number of cases at 68, leading to 508 deaths. The Southwest recorded three cases with 50 fatalities, and the South-South had 10 cases and led to one fatality.
Meanwhile, 29 attacks and 56 deaths were reported in the South-East, with 6 attacks in the North-Central resulting in 18 deaths and 14 attacks in the North-West leading to 49 deaths in that region. The report highlighted that Nigeria has been facing challenges due to the rise of local arms manufacturers, which has led to increased availability of small arms to various non-state groups, including those utilizing improvised explosive devices. This trend has expanded beyond the North-East region where such devices were previously predominant.
12 attacks resulting in 42 deaths recorded already in 2024.
The Security situation in the country has been further complicated by the rising trend of armed groups using IEDs. In 2019, there were eight attacks, but this number has steadily increased to 16 in 2020, 23 in 2021, and 37 in 2022. Shockingly, within the first six months of 2024, there have already been 12 attacks resulting in 42 deaths, highlighting the growing threat posed by these explosive devices. According to SB Morgan’s findings, there were a total of 34 incidents reported in the country in 2023.
As an agency which specialized in geopolitical research, SB Morgan is deeply invested in collecting primary data and analyzing information to shed light on political, economic, and social matters in Nigeria and West Africa. According to Lawrence Alobi, the former Commissioner of Police in Abuja, the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) proliferation can be attributed to insufficient intelligence sharing and monitoring between security agencies. Alobi emphasized the importance of increased dedication to addressing security issues and urged security personnel to demonstrate greater Patriotism in their actions.
Arms proliferation has a significant impact on our security.
Alobi condemned politicians who engaged in the unlawful act of weaponizing militant groups in order to gain political influence. He elaborated on how these politicians promote the spread of weapons by arming young people and militants in order to gain power, only to later disregard them. He argued that as long as politicians continue to prioritize greed in their pursuit of power, they will inevitably turn to unlawful tactics to attain their goals. The lack of loyalty resulting from such behaviour leads to poor governance, he added.
Illicit arms proliferation has a significant impact on the security and stability of our communities and regions due to its constantly shifting nature and complex challenges. To address the alarming threat, the government had set up the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in 2021 to stop the illegal flow of weapons and improve National Security with strict controls, strategic alliances, and thorough policies. The Center is dedicated to increasing capabilities and implementing new strategies to achieve its goals.
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Under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Center, led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, will develop innovative tactics to address the problem of illegal small arms and light weapons proliferation that is fuelling insecurity in our nation. The NCCSALW is committed to working closely with both local and global allies to create strong, comprehensive, and successful solutions. Collaboration with government agencies, security forces, international organizations, and the wider community is essential for the center to strengthen defences against the dangers of uncontrolled weapons.