Nigerian Army Warns of Alarming Rise in Unauthorized Weapons

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Hassan Dada, has expressed grave concern over the high number of unauthorized weapons in circulation across Nigeria.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the South East Zonal office of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALWS), Maj-Gen. Dada described the situation as "very alarming" and emphasized the urgent need to retrieve these weapons from non-state actors to address the country's current security challenges.

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons has been identified as a major contributor to the ongoing crises and violence in Nigeria. According to the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Kanayo Uzuegbu, most of these arms are being smuggled from neighboring countries, fueling criminality nationwide.

The NCCSALWS zonal officer, Maj.-Gen. Okechukwu Ugoh (rtd), stated that the easy access to these weapons and their reckless use have made violence more lethal and conflicts more protracted, posing a significant challenge to the country.

Why this matters: The alarming rise in unauthorized weapons in Nigeria has far-reaching implications for the country's security and stability. The proliferation of these weapons not only fuels criminality and violence but also undermines the government's efforts to maintain law and order. Addressing this issue is crucial for ensuring the safety of citizens and promoting peace and development in the nation.

Over the past three years, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has successfully recovered and destroyed over 6,000 illicit and obsolete small and light weapons from various security agencies and operational theaters in Nigeria. However, the Nigerian Army has stated that insecurity would have been solved if all illicit weapons were taken away from the streets.

Experts at the seminar called for more synergy and interagency communication among security agencies to retrieve all weapons from criminal elements. They also highlighted the need to engage with Nigerian manufacturers, political actors, and other stakeholders to find solutions to this menace. The GOC urged for collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to address the proliferation of illicit small and light weapons effectively.

The seminar aimed to discuss multi-sectoral synergy towards the control of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. As Maj-Gen. Dada stated, "The number of weapons outside of authorized hands is very alarming, and solutions are needed to retrieve these weapons from non-state actors to address the current security challenges in the country."

Key Takeaways

• Nigerian Army GOC expresses grave concern over high number of unauthorized weapons.
• Proliferation of small arms fuels criminality and violence, undermining security and stability.
• Over 6,000 illicit weapons recovered and destroyed in 3 years, but more work needed.
• Experts call for synergy among agencies to retrieve weapons from criminal elements.
• Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to address the proliferation of illicit weapons.