*Says over 200m illegal small arms, light weapons are in circulation in Nigeria
*That figure represents 40% of 500m such weapons circulating in West Africa
*Reveals that arms are often smuggled from conflict zone in Sahel, North Africa
*Regrets that it has empowered terrorists, bandits, ethnic militia escalating violence in Nigeria
By Our Correspondent with agency report
Amidst rising cases of violent crimes across the country, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa has raised the alarm that over 200 million illegal arms and light weapons are in circulation in the country.
The Army Chief disclosed this while delivering the second Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management, held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State yesterday.
He explained that the figure represents 40 percent of over 500 million of such weapons currently circulating in West Africa which according to him were often smuggled from conflict zones in the Sahel and North Africa which he said have empowered terrorists, bandits, and ethnic militias, escalating violence in Nigeria’s northern regions.
General Musa cautioned that Nigeria must, as a matter of urgency, improve its security strategies in the face of increasing global fragility adding that “Fragile states are no longer isolated issues because, according to him, “they pose a direct threat to regional and global peace, and Nigeria is not immune.”
Speaking at the lecture titled “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria,” Musa lamented the growing interconnectivity between global insecurity and Nigeria’s internal security dynamics.
He highlighted the various ways Nigeria’s security is being undermined by external crises and instability, including the proliferation of arms, economic shocks, transnational terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental stressors attributing the proliferation of such arms to porous borders and weak governance in remote regions.
“Nigeria’s vulnerabilities are not just internal; they’re being shaped by the global fragility matrix. We must respond with resilience, innovation, and collective will. No nation is an island in today’s security landscape,” he explained.
Speaking further, the CDS also raised concern over the rising influence of disinformation and online radicalisation noting that Nigeria faces hybrid threats beyond the battlefield with digital platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp now being weaponized to spread ethnic hatred and undermine public trust.
He, therefore, advocated a series of policy actions to confront these complex challenges, which include “A multi-agency approach to security management, as outlined in Nigeria’s National Defence Policy; enhanced border security, with the use of fencing, surveillance technology, and better-trained personnel.”
On solution to the threat, he suggested “Investment in youth empowerment, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship to address root causes of insecurity. Strengthening civil institutions and promoting dialogue to foster national unity and social cohesion.”
“Security is no longer just about guns and boots. It’s about sustainable development, responsive governance, and empowered communities”, he added.
The Chairman of the occasion, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd), represented by Lt. Gen Lamidi Adeosun (retd), echoed similar sentiments.
“Security management in Nigeria must evolve. This requires governance reforms, capacity building, and community-based intelligence systems to strengthen early warning mechanisms and deter threats before they escalate”, he said.
In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale, described the lecture as a powerful blend of scholarship and field experience.
“Today’s discussion bridges the gap between academic insight and practical security leadership. This is how we develop evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges,” he stated.
