Proliferation of Small Arms and Insecurity in Africa

Abstract

This paper examined the proliferations of Small Arms and insecurity in Nigeria. The proliferation
of small Arms and insecurity in Nigeria has immensely contributed to conflicts and caused
catastrophic damage to both human and material resources in almost the thirty-Six States. Today,
insecurity ranging from Kidnapping, Banditry, Armed robbery, ESN, IPOB, Boko Haram pervades
the country. The menace has not spared any region ranging from the South-south, South-east,
South-west, North-west, North-central and North-east. This study further showed that there is
currently intensity of the phenomenon of small arms and light weapons related criminalities in
Northeast, Northwest and Southeast. In the Northeast, the activities of Boko Haram are ravaging
communities. In Northwest, the activities of Fulani militias/invaders have resulted to killings,
kidnappings, abductions and displacement of communities. While, in the Southeast, there is
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militia wing called Eastern Security Network (ESN. The study
is a descriptive survey and depended on secondary data to develop the paper. Regulative
capability analytical framework, which is an aspect of Almond’s General Systems theory, is
adopted to guide the discussion of the proliferation of small arms and insecurity in Nigeria.
Findings reveal that porous borders Poverty and corruption are some of the causes for the
proliferation of arms in Nigeria. One of the recommendations made was that Nigeria governments
must collaborate with countries in the African Sub-region to combat the proliferation of small
arms. Also, Nigerian government must combat Poverty by providing basic needs of its citizens and
also fight both Malignant and benign corruption.