To Stop All Forms Of Insurrection And Save The Economy, All Illicit Arms Must Be Recovered And Confiscated By Federal And State Governments!  

The perennial challenge of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), again drew global attention at the recently concluded, 71st United Nations General Assembly, in New York, from19th – 24th September, 2016, when Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, solicited the collective resolve of other Head of States and Governments, to beat back terrorism in all its forms No one could have been in a better position to court the co-operation of his fellow world leaders than President Buhari in whose domain lie 70% of SALW in the West African sub-region inspite of the global movement against gun violence!
There was public outcry in August 2016, by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), when news broke out that there was in Nigeria, stockpile of SALW of an alarming 350million, out of the 500 million discovered to be hosted by the entire ECOWAS countries of the West Africa sub-region, and it was yet to be established that collective regional embargo had produced any meaningful impact against the terrifying menace! Judging by the activities of terrorists and militant groups within the ECOWAS countries, one was bound to wish that more stringent measures be employed by concerned governments in unison to block and man the porous borders of their territories. Beginning with Nigeria, other countries on the West African coasts, like Mali, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, apart from hosting large proportions of SALW, are still being infiltrated by armed groups which caused social, infrastructural, economic and collateral damages, each time they struck! The outcry of August 2016, was sequel to the alarming revelation of arms stockpile in Nigeria during the United Nations Regional Peace and Disarmament In Africa, and Presidential Committee (PRESCOM), Summit on Small Arms and Light Weapons, held in Abuja, which also disclosed that SALW were in the hands of non-state actors who used the weapons to threaten lives and properties of their compatriots.

According to a Daily Trust report, three   inadequacies were identified as responsible for the outrageous statistics: 
(1). Ineffective management of the nation's porous borders;
(2).Stock pile mismanagement by security agencies, where weapons meant for government work were lent or sold to armed robbers and non- state agents and
(3) Obsolete laws used in regulating the arms.   

The current law against prohibitive arms and ammunition in Nigeria is still the 1958 Colonially-inherited and archaic Fire Arms Act which prescribed inadequate penalties for offenders in a 21st Century "wild wild west", scenario! Way back in 1966, following the January military coup de tat of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, when violence was introduced into an otherwise peaceful communities of Nigeria through the proliferation of SALW, from internal and external vendors due to the elongated 60month-old- Biafra war, armed robberies rapidly gained momentum while internal security was thrown to the dogs! When "democracy" was briefly allowed a space between 1979-1983, the party with the highest numbers of SALW held sway at the pools through ballot boxes snatching and political brigandage that was totally alien to the electorate and Nigeria was forcibly admitted into the global union of insecure nations! Porous borders of which Nigeria can boast of over 400 of them, had been identified as the major entry points through which the SALW find their ways unhindered to spit fire and snuff out lives of innocent citizens who had always been the unfortunate victims of the maladministration in all governments - military or civilian, but unpatriotic security agents also regularly connived with arms merchants to smuggle in the weapons of mass destruction into the country for pecuniary advantages!

If three hundred and fifty million of the five hundred million illegal arms on the West African coast are hidden in Nigeria, should anyone be surprised about the high rates of crime and criminality in which sophisticated arms were usually employed to confront security agents with much professional audacity! Until the advent of the APC Government, under the determined leadership of President Buhari, Boko Haram boasted of taking over the North East Nigeria and almost did! Kidnappers and assassins are on the rampage in every state of the federation; the Niger Delta Region is under heavy bombardment of several militant groups who are bent on destroying the economy because PDP was no longer on power!

If government ever decided to dispose assets as being proposed, they should be sold through shares to masses of the public who are the "hewers of the wood and drawers of the water"! The Word of God says, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn". (Deuteronomy. 25:4) Common Nigerians have a stake in this government of Change and we strongly believe that President Buhari and his exemplary team, would not fail them! Amen.  


I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.