The proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons remains the primary driver of terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes across Nigeria. National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this during a specialized security workshop in Abuja on Thursday. He warned that the unchecked flow of these weapons continues to undermine national security and destroy local economies.

Ribadu stated that illicit firearms directly sustain the violent crimes plaguing different regions of the country. He specifically linked the weapons influx to North-West banditry, North-Central farmer-herder conflicts, and North-East insurgency. The NSA emphasized that illegal arms circulation is a direct, deadly threat to human lives rather than a mere policy issue.

The security chief stressed that Nigeria cannot successfully combat this menace by relying on outdated statistics or vague estimates. He noted that the country requires precise, verified data to map out effective counter-terrorism strategies. According to Ribadu, accurate data is the most critical weapon needed to dismantle trafficking networks permanently.

Reviewing past initiatives, Ribadu credited Nigeria’s 2016 National Baseline Survey with shaping vital security updates. The previous data led to the creation of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. However, he insisted that a strict, honest review of past failures must happen before launching a new survey.

A updated, credible baseline survey will allow security forces to track illicit arms across national borders. The upcoming data collection aims to improve disarmament strategies and strengthen border surveillance systems. Ribadu called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society groups to actively support the exercise.

Corroborating the NSA`s stance, the Director-General of the arms control centre, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd), noted major security shifts since 2016. Kokumo explained that criminal networks have developed new trafficking routes and sophisticated operational methods over the decade. He stated that the upcoming survey must pinpoint the exact sources and distribution networks of these illegal arms.

International experts also backed the federal government`s decision to overhaul its national security data infrastructure. UNODA Director, Dr. Adedeji Ebo, warned that designing security interventions with obsolete 2016 data is highly risky. Ebo stated that outdated information forces law enforcement to deploy resources blindly to the wrong regions.

The United Nations representative urged the Nigerian government to make the new survey highly inclusive. He recommended gathering firsthand intelligence from local farmers, artisans, women groups, and survivors of gun violence. This grassroots approach ensures that the resulting national security policy addresses the actual realities on the ground.