Abdulsalami’s Alarm Over Arms Proliferation

“The number of small arms in circulation in Nigeria, in the hands of civilian non-state actors is estimated at 6,145,000, while the armed forces and law enforcement collectively account for 586,600 firearms”
– SBM Security Report

“Guns, guns, everywhere! Who is safe in Nigeria?” That was the million-naira question recently posed by a concerned public affairs analyst. The answer is as obvious as the sun rising from the east. But how many innocent and defenceless Nigerians are alive to witness the beauty and mysteries of such days? How many of them fall as helpless victims to the senseless carnage in the land by Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and kidnappers on daily basis?

Only recently, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State survived a hideous attack by suspected armed herdsmen at Tyo Mu along Makurdi/Gboko road, luckily. He pointed fingers at Myetti Allah because of his avowed stand against an-outmoded open cattle grazing in the 21st century. But ever since, the search for the attackers has gathered more heat than light. I am worried.

Of course, millions of Nigerians are, including former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC). According to him over six million illegal weapons are currently traced to civilians, many of whom are jobless, hungry and angry!
Furthermore, some 80,000 Nigerians have died in recent months with close to three million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) spread across the country. He painted an ugly picture of the dire insecurity challenge at a dialogue session of the committee with stakeholders at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

Another terrifying dimension to the riling nakedness of the ordinary Nigerian in the face of the proliferation of arms and ammunition is aptly captured, specifically in the words of Bamigboye Olurotimi, a writer, poet and technologist: “Only desperate and corrupt politicians can use rigging, thuggery, vote-buying, violence, trouble, assault, propaganda and lies to win an election and take over power by force.”

It would be recalled that back in August 2020, I had raised a similar alarm over the serious consequences of arms proliferation across the country. But now, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2020 report, Nigeria was ranked as the third most terrorised country in the world due to insecurity. General Abubakar also gave an assessment of the security situation, stating that the security forces are not only overstretched but they are under-funded. One cannot but wonder what must have happened to the security votes and related humungous funds taken from our excess crude account to battle insecurity over the past years!

It has become imperative for the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi to take note of the concerns of the good people of Nigeria and do the needful. It is all because when proactive measures are not deployed as when due, the insecurity issue worsens by the day.
Things are getting out of hands. Even Governor Samuel Ortom has called on the federal government to grant licences to responsible citizens to “carry sophisticated weapons such as AK-47 to deter criminals from attacking innocent and helpless Nigerians”.

Add this to the alarm raised mid-2020 by Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, that attacks by Boko Haram insurgents were on the increase. The senator narrated how Boko Haram terrorists killed 75 members of his community in Gwoza LGA in one night!
We also recall the blame-game between Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and the APC stalwarts in Edo State over the importation of arms and ammunition as well as political thugs from the neighbouring states, sequel to the 2020 governorship election in the state.

One would recall that back in 2010 a top-notch member of a Texas-based armoured vehicle manufacturing company asked a thought-provoking question: “Are Nigerians preparing for general elections, or are they getting set for war?” He was worried about the high level of the demand for armoured cars by several Nigerian politicians. That was prelude to the 2011 general elections and unfortunately a similar issue re-echoed in 2014/2015. But it is getting scarier.

We should ruminate and act on the words of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Said he: “Violence can only lead to a disaster that could consume everyone and leads to desolation of our communities. It is easy to take peace for granted, but we need not learn the value of peace through the horrible crucible of war.”
Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos