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RECENTLY, President Goodluck Jonathan set up a committee on small arms and light weapons because of the security challenges we have in the north. He said the committee was set up because of the threats that come from the free use of small arms and light weapons. Before that, most Nigerian are aware and have shown concern over the proliferation of arms especially as security agencies parade on television some of the seizures they made at the nation’s ports. But no one could have imagined that more than one million arms are in circulation in the country and could be in the wrong hands.

The persistence and the complication of wars in Africa, albeit Nigeria, are partially due to small arms proliferation. The consequences of the inflow on African people due to conflicts within Africa, and the activities of rebels, mercenary groups, and armed gang activities are yet to be fully measured. But the International Action Network on Small Arms, Saferworld, and Oxfam International put it in perspective when they reported that armed conflicts cost Africa $18 billion each year and about $300 billion between 1990-2005. During this period, 23 African nations experienced conflicts. The countries include Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, and Uganda.

Nigeria is still in the throes of an internal crisis which has wasted thousands of lives and property worth billions of Naira. Jonathan had said that he set up the committee in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the United Nations and other countries to stem the proliferation of small arms and light weapons; and their use in threatening security and stability of the country and other developing nations. The committee is yet to submit its report. But the rampant cases of seizures of small arms in crisis prone areas in different parts of the country is a source of worry to Nigerians who want government to take more stringent actions to stem the tide. Hence, Realnews editorial board decided to investigate the matter and what could happen to Nigeria if the proliferation of small arms and weapons are not curbed on time. The findings are captured in the cover story of this week entitled: Insecurity in the Land: The Threat Posed by Proliferation of Small Arms. It was anchored by Olu Ojewale, general editor.

Maureen Chigbo 
Editor

— Jul. 29, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT