THE PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONSIN NIGERIA - A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

A CASE STUDY OF KANO STATE, NIGERIA

BY

IDOKO GODWIN

MSC PEACE STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTIONSCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA,

LAGOS, NIGERIA

DECEMBER, 2014

2

THE PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONSIN NIGERIA - A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

A CASE STUDY OF KANO STATE, NIGERIA

BY

IDOKO GODWINNOU142548695

BEING A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF ARTS ANDSOCIAL SCIENCE, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA,

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE(M.Sc) PEACE STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIALAGOS, NIGERIA

DECEMBER, 2014

i

DECLARATION

I IDOKO GODWIN humbly declare that this work entitled The

Proliferation of Small Arms And Light Weapons In Nigeria, A

Threat to National Security. Using Kano State as a case study is

as a result of my research effort carried out in the School of

Arts and Social Sciences, National Open University under the

supervision of Dr. Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed. I further wish to

declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it

contains no materials previously published or written by another

person nor material which to a substantial extent has been

accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of any

University or other institute of higher learning, except where

due acknowledgement has been made in the text.

_________________________Idoko Godwin

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iii

CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this research project entitled The

Proliferation of Small Arms And Light Weapons In Nigeria, A

Threat to National Security – A Case Study Of Kano State,

Nigeria was carried out by Idoko Godwin in the school of Art and

Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria Lagos for

the award of Masters of Sciences in Peace Studies and Conflict

Resolution.

_________________________________________

Supervisor DateDr. Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed

____________________________________________

Programme Leader’s Signature Date

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In realizing the success of this research work, I owe a huge

debt of appreciation for the contribution given to me by many

people morally, academically, financial, socially etc.

First of all, my deepest gratitude, appreciation and praises

goes to Almighty God for making my life a success.

My sincere gratitude goes to my Dad and Mummy chief and Mrs.

Matthew Idoko for their moral religious and financial support,

they accorded me right from my childhood to what I am today. The

same extend to Brothers Jolly, Raph, Spencer, Kisho, Peter and

Paul from them i have received a sense of inspiration,

tremendous moral and financial support throughout the duration

of my studies. I will forever remain grateful to then for making

everything worthwhile. While to my striving siblings, I pray

that the Almighty God will see them through.

I am most indebted to Dr. Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed, my mentor and

role model. His place in ny book of record will forever remain

indelible. I am most grateful. Coincidentally too, he doubled as

my facilitator and supervisor. I am appreciative of his

kindness, especially his useful criticism regarding the contents

and arrangement of this work. As well as his good guide on how

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best to put my limited resources to use, in order to achieve my

objectives. I say thank you sir!

Also worthy of mentioning here are the entire staff of NOUN Kano

Study centre especially Mr. Bature and Mallam Nasir Mudi for

their kindness and encouragement.

Finally, not left out and worthy of mention here are the best of

my friends, Ibro Paul Onuh, Abdullahi Nuhu Lawal, Amin and

others space would not permit ne to mention you all. I am

grateful to every other person who contributed in one way or the

other to my success in life. May God Almighty in His infinite

mercies reward you all abundantly.

_______________________Idoko Godwin

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ABSTRACT

The issue of small Arms and Light Weapons proliferation has been given widespreadinternational focus in the post cold war era. This is so because these weapons havebecome the primary tool for both ethnic and internal conflicts and other related violentcrimes that pose threat to our national security. Using Kano State as a case study todetermine the sources and effects of the proliferation of such weapons through the useof both primary data (interview and questionnaire) and secondary data (journals,textbooks, periodicals etc) to proffer solutions and identify measures for controlling theproliferation of small arms and light weapons. Ultimately, it is important to note thatthe introduction of true democracy, good governance and transparency in themanagement of public affairs can help to eradicate the scourge of small arms and lightweapons.

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ACRONYMS

AU: African Union

CBO: Community Based Organization

CSO Civil Society Organization

ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States

IMF: International Monetary Fund

MDG: Millennium Development Goal

NATCOM: National Commission (on the control of Small Arms and

Light Weapons)

NGO: Non Governmental Organization

SALW Small Arms And Light Weapons

SSS: State Security Service

UN: United Nations

WB: World Bank

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS PAGE

Title page

______________________________________________________ i

Declaration

______________________________________________________ ii

Certification

______________________________________________________ iii

Acknowledgement

________________________________________________ iv

Abstract ______________________________________________________

v

ACRONYMS ______________________________________________________

vi

Table of contents

________________________________________________ vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

________________________________________________ 1

1.1` Background of the study

____________________________________ 1

x

1.2 Statement of the problem

____________________________________ 3

1.3 Hypothesis/Research question

______________________________ 4

1.4 Purpose of study

__________________________________________ 6

1.5 Significance of

study____________________________________________ 6

1.6 Scope of the

study______________________________________________ 7

1.7 Research methods

___________________________________________ 8

1.8 Definition of

terms______________________________________________ 8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

___________________________________________________ 9

2.1 Theoretical

framework___________________________________________ 9

2.2 Review of the related literature

_______________________________ 10

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2.3 Problems and consequences of SALW in Kano State

__________________ 14

2.3.1 Illegal Arms Importation

________________________________________ 14

2.3.2 Boko Haram and the consequence of Arms proliferation

________________ 15

2.3.3 Ethno-Religious violence

____________________________________ 16

2.3.4 Weapons and elections

____________________________________ 18

2.3.5 Armed robbery and other related crimes

___________________________ 20

2.4 Combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons

___________ 21

2.4.1 International efforts

_________________________________________ 22

2.4.2 Regional efforts

_____________________________________________ 22

2.4.3 National efforts

_________________________________________ 23

2.4.4 Non legislative measures

____________________________________ 24

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CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

_________________________________________________ 25

3.2 method of data collection/justification of

data_______________________ 25

3.3 Reliability of data

_____________________________________________ 26

3.4 Research population, sample size and procedure

____________________ 26

3.5 Justification for instrument used, sample selection procedure, and

justification for using a particular sample

_________________________ 27

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction

_________________________________________________ 29

4.2 Analysis of data

___________________________________________ 29

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1

Summary_____________________________________________________

35

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5.2 Conclusion

________________________________________________ 36

5.3 Recommendations

____________________________________________ 37

APPENDIX _____________________________________________________

39

BIBILOGRAPHY _______________________________________________

43

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Kano state was created on 27 May, 1967 from the then

Northern Nigeria by the Federal Military Government. The

state is located in North-Western Nigeria -11030’N 8030’E

and borders Katsina State to the North-West, Jigawa State

to the North-East and Bauchi and Kaduna State to the South.

With an Area of 20,760 sq km. Population of approximately

10,000,000 people as at 2010. The major language is Hausa

and religion predominantly Islam. The state has 44 Local

Government Areas. The capital of Kano State is Kano.

The State is nicknamed the ‘center of commerce’. This is as

a result of its historical records of economic and

commercial activities. For the past 500 years within the

Western Sudan sub region. It serves as Trans-Sahara trade

route. As it still remain the second largest industrial

center in Nigeria and the largest in Northern Nigeria.

The rate of economic and commercial growth in the state

seems to be at a slow pace. Compared to Lagos State in the

Southern part of Nigeria, which is the largest in Nigeria.

Business and commercial activities has taken a turn for the

worse in Kano State as a result of various security threats

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occasioned by frequent killings, bombing and other violent

crimes. This have impacted negatively on both the private

and public sector of the economy. Since development can

only be experience where there is peace and security.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The changing trend of threats to our National security is

occasioned by the evolution and development of new factors

in the internal and external environment of the Nigeria

State. The security of the Nigerian state is aimed at

protecting National integrity of the state and defending

the essential values that constitute Nigerian identity.

The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

has been given wide spread international focus in the post

cold war era (Baxter, 2008). This is because these weapons

have become the primary tools of ethnic and internal

conflict in recent times. They have been the sources of

violence, wars, conflict and crimes. It is a phenomenon

that is destabilizing the peace, development and

threatening the National security of sovereign States.

2

However, in nearly all conflict and crime, the diffusion of

Small Arms and Light weapons particularly from

industrialized nations to developing world has played a

decisive role in escalating and intensifying the various

threats to our national security. For example, the

Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Kano state

of Nigeria and the Nation in general, together with the

activities of the Insurgent group of Boko-Haram, cannot be

overlooked in this discourse. Secondly, the Proliferation

of Small Arms its misuse generates a climate of fear and

culture of violence that can last for generations.

Insecurity affects decision-making, access to food, water

and shelter, as well as mobility and commerce. Thirdly,

Small Arms and Light Weapon Proliferation discourages

foreign investment and damages the prospects of economic

development. As its availability promotes violent solution

to conflict.

Lastly, it increases the level of criminal acts in society

ranging from; robberies, assassination, kidnapping,

assaults and car hijacking etc.

3

Readily available and easy to use, Small Arms and Light

Weapons have been the primary and the sole tools for

violence in almost all parts of the federation of Nigeria.

In the hand of irregular troops, bandits, groups,

individuals and politician operating with scant respect for

International and National Humanitarian Laws. Small Arms

and Light Weapons are killers Weapons.

Globalization too is becoming an ever influencing architect

of the new international security agenda. Its impact on the

evolution of the relations among states is contradictory.

It has facilitated the easy transportation of illegal Arms

and Light Weapons from porous borders of bordering States

like Chad and Niger Republic respectively into Kano State

and Nigeria in general.

These Arms are precisely ‘small’. They circulate easily

because they are small, easy to buy, easy to use, easy to

transport and easy to conceal. Their proliferation

exacerbates conflicts, sparks refugees’ flows, and

undermines the rule of law and spawn a culture of violence

4

and impunity. Thus poses threat to National and State

security.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The statements of problem is the fundamental question that

requires an answer, it is the most worrying issues that

need to be properly examine and understood. The research

problem is the fulcrum which the research objective and

hypotheses resolve (Obasi, 1999). Under the statement of

problem the researcher is expected to examine the ‘why’

related issues the researcher does not only describe as

such but rather raise question that attract curiosity and

expectation in terms of answer.

The problem of proliferation of Small Arms and Light

Weapons (SALW) has intensified in the country since the

late ‘60s to the very end of the Nigerian-Biafran war and

after. Since the priority then, of both parties was to win

the war at all cost, this made for massive importation of

arms and weapons into the country. Since in times of war

the situation provide for local populace to find ways to

survive at all cost. Locally made arms were produced (both

5

rifles, pistols, and land mines and other explosives). Some

of these arms, either imported or locally made are still in

circulation till today. The problem of illicit production,

sales, distribution and trafficking of light weapons have

threatened human welfare and dignity in many parts of the

country. Ranging from distortion in National economy due to

violence, terrorism and assassination, to corruption of

public officials especially the law enforcement agents, who

in themselves are made to keep watch either on the borders

and sea routes, on the spread of these arms.

Against this backdrop of proliferation of Small Arms and

Light Weapons in the country, the Nigerian Government has

established a National commission on small arms, as

required by the moratorium; it faces a daunting task of

exerting control and reducing the circulation, availability

and diffusion of Small Arms and Light Weapons through its

borders and sea routes into the country.

The research problem centers on the extent at which the

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria,

poses a threat to National Security, using Kano State of

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Nigeria as a case study. It is against this backdrop that

the following questions will be addressed.

i. To examine the nuances surrounding the concept of Small

Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) proliferation and seek a

better understanding of their meaning.

ii. To examine the factors that encourages the

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria.

iii. To examine the interconnection and multiple linkages

between Small Arms and various threats to National

Security.

iv. To identify and explain the role of SALW in the

escalation of various security threats in Nigeria.

v. To examine, the role of the State, National and

International Organization in regulating the spread of

SALW in Nigeria.

vi To analyze the ways in which SALW proliferation are

threat to National Security.

1.3 HYPOTHESIS/RESEARCH QUESTION

A hypothesis is an idea or explanation for something that

is based on known fact but which has not yet been proved.

7

The more explicit and focused a research is, the easier it

is to develop a hypothesis from it. A hypothesis formulates

a relation, which then will be tested empirically. The

hypothesis/Research question is the fundamental question

about the study that requires an answer. It is a

fundamental question because other specific research

question derives from it. It also shapes or determines the

research objectives. Obasi (1999) noted that research

question is the most worrying issue or fact that needs to

be properly examined and understood.

To focus the study more sharply, the following

hypothesis/research question will be formulated for

testing.

i. The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

endangers threat to National Security.

ii. The current porous state of Kano State’s borders and

routes is partly responsible for the proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapons.

iii. The proliferation of SALW is partly due to the

inability of government and security agent to come up

8

with policies and strategies to regulate the inflow of

illegal arms, which may be either due to corruption or

negligence.

1.4 PURPOSE OF STUDY

The research is intended to highlight, how Small Arms and

Light Weapons (SALW) have exacerbated the various threat to

National Security. It will also provide a framework for

controlling regimes such as internal processes, National

policy and Regional initiatives. These policy options will

be provided by the study, to State, Sub-Regional, National

and International organizations. Since the problem of SALW

are not limited to any particular State.

The adoption of the multiple options that will be provided

by this study will reduce and contain the various threats

to our State and National Security in which Small Arms and

Light Weapons are the weapons of choice.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of study is, the value or contribution

which the research is going to make to existing knowledge

in terms of theoretical justification or relevance.

9

Secondly, the solution the research is going to provide

towards ameliorating a practical problem of concern.

Therefore, the study has theoretical and practical

relevance. The theoretical relevance of this study is that

it examines the role of the proliferation of Small Arms and

Light Weapons (SALW) in Kano State. By so doing, the study

enriches the existing stock of literature or expands the

frontiers of knowledge through its findings. Therefore

serves as a source of data/material to those scholars who

may be interested in further studies in this area.

Empirically or practically, this study will be of immense

benefits to government, security advisers, defense

advisers, policy makers and politicians, Regional and

International institutions like ECOWAS, AU, UN, IMF and WB

etc.

The study is timely, because the process is ongoing.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Considering the relationship between the proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and various threats to

our National Security, the geographical size of the country

10

dictates that the scope be narrowed down. Therefore, the

reference point for the research shall be various security

threats orchestrated in Kano State of Nigeria.

It is also worthy of note that the true scope covered by

the work is the period of 1967 to 2014. The choice of 1967

as the starting point is informed by the fact that the

Nigerian civil war contributed to the proliferation of SALW

into the country. The oil boom of the ‘70s led to the

misappropriation of National funds, while the economic

recessions of the ‘80s was also accompanied by a steep rise

in robbery, political terrorism and the industrialization

of corruption in all spheres of daily National life.

Coupled with these, is the fact that the ‘70s conceded with

the period when sub-regional integration within the

framework of ECOWAS began to gain momentum. It is partly as

a result of this that free trade was adopted, along with

this free trade, came in trade in both legal and illegal

items and contrabands, partly of which are SALW.

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1.7 RESEARCH METHODS

The study shall rely solely on both primary and secondary

sources of data. The primary sources include personal

interview and questionnaire. While the secondary sources

are; journals, magazines, periodicals, academic

publications, internet, etc.

The effort to acquire primary materials involved discussing

question in a focus group to obtain the views of

participants. The process of content analysis involve

investigating, recording and analyzing past event with the

view to discovering generalizations that were significant

in understanding of the past and the present in order to

predict and deal with the issue under consideration.

To this end, documented literature was relied on.

Documented literature was a major instrument of research,

which are deemed to be able to stand alone if the need

arises.

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1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

i. NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT:- An increase in crime wave,

crisis and violent conflicts, which endangers peoples

lives and safety of property of a Nation.

ii. PROLIFERATION:- The sudden increase in the number or

amount of something.

iii. SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS (SALW):- These are

weapons that can be carried by a single person. Ranging

from clubs, knives, and machetes. It also covers a wide

range of weapons from pistol, machine guns and other

firearms to grenades, portable anti-tank systems, anti-

aircraft guns and mortars. The United Nation General

Assembly defines “Small Arms and Light Weapons” as any

portable lethal weapon that expels or launches, is

designed to expel or launch, or may be readily converted

to expel or launch a shot bullet or projectile by the

action of an explosive (Heinrich, 2006).

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 INTRODUCTION

The literature review focuses on identifying contribution

already made on the subject matter under investigation.

13

According to Obasi (1999), a review of literature offers

an opportunity to identify gaps in existing literature and

through identification of such limitations new research

problem worth investigating can be discovered.

Tuckman (1972), rightly observes that the purpose of the

literature review is to expand upon the context and

background of the study, to help further define the problem

and to provide an empirical basis for the subsequent

development of hypothesis. Thus, in reviewing the related

literature, I shall discus the contributions of scholars

concerning causes, sources, transit and destination of

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and problems and

consequences of SALW in Kano State and Nigeria in general.

2.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In the theoretical framework of analysis in this study,

social conflict theory shall be adopted to access

critically, the theme of my study. This theory has its root

in the idea of Karl Marx (1818-1883). It assumes that

society is based primarily on conflict between competing

14

interest group such as the rich (the bourgeoisie) against

the poor (the proletariat). In many cases, competing

interest groups are not equal in terms of political power

and access to economic resources. Since the proletariat

(the workers), whose only property is their labour which

they sell to the bourgeoisie (capitalist) who make profits

by paying workers less than their work is worth and thus

exploiting them.

Economic exploitation leads directly or indirectly to

political oppression, hence, conflict and other related

crimes are inevitable. Dambazau (2011).

2.2 REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

According to the studies, in recent years, a number of

sources have cited figures that purport to document the

proportion of civilians injured by Small Arms and Light

weapons in various conflict and violent crimes. Thus, in

recent years, a large number of documents by Non-

governmental organization, International organizations and

even articles in the peer-reviewed medical literature have

cited figures which are increasingly being used as

‘evidence’ by those concerned with Weapon availability and

15

misuse, but which are difficult, if not impossible to

substantiate.

Christopher Louse (1995), in his work ‘the relationship

between the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons’

stated that effect of globalization and societal

disintegration have been greatly under-researched. The

dearth of serious enquires into this phenomenon is all the

more significant because such Weapons continue to be most

commonly used in many of the violent conflict and other

related crimes of the post-cold war era. All of the 34

major armed conflicts, documented during 1993 by the

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI),

he claimed, they are being fought mainly with Light

Weapons. According to him, most Light Weapons do not

require complex training or expertise to operate, making

them suitable for insurgents and irregular forces, which

lack the formal infrastructure of a professional Army.

According to Yacubu J.C, The proliferation of Small Arms in

Nigeria has many causes. They include, among others,

trafficking in, local manufacture of, and theft of weapons

16

belonging to individual or the authorities. He asserted

that the smuggling of Arms into the country have reached

disturbing levels. Sometimes these Arms are imported into

the country hidden in clothing, vehicles or kitchen

utensils, through our porous borders.

This situation as being indicative of spill-over of crisis

in the North Africa uprising particularly in Libya which

borders Niger republic, and Niger also borders Northern

Nigeria of which Kano State is part of.

Yacubu opined that in the 1970s and 1980s, local Arms

production did not receive enough attention in Nigeria.

Arms manufactured locally were mostly used for hunting, as

ornamentals and for traditional rites. However, the rise in

the use of firearms for violent crimes suggests that

locally produced arms have become a sound and cheap

alternative to imported weapons.

He further asserted that criminals also obtain the arms

they use by means of theft from both individuals and the

State. For example in Owerri, the Customs service’s armory

17

was broken into and a substantial quantity of arms were

removed by unknown persons. Similar incidence had also

occurred in Sharada Division Police Station in Kano State

in 2011.

According to Abdel-Fatau Musah (1999), in Africa, the

sources of Small Arms and Light Weapons proliferation are

many and varied. While the thrust of International efforts

to curbing proliferation tend to concentrate on the

manufacturer and supply of new Weapons, a major pipeline

of SALW remains the stockpiles that were pumped into Africa

in the 70s and 80s by the ex-Soviet Union the USA and their

allies to fan or sponsor proxy interstate wars.

According to Krause (2007), the availability and use of

more sophisticated weapons has contributed to the erosion

of state authority. This has become particularly evident in

the escalation of crime. It is widely held that guns are

not the root cause of crime, but rather, that crime is

rooted in the inept structural form which creates or

sustains human insecurity in its broad sense. It is clear

that the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons is

in part a response to demand for personal security when

18

normative social relations collapse or are seen to be on

the brink of collapse. It is also evident that the

widespread availability of arms accelerates and appreciates

dysfunctional trends. Thus, the absence of functional and

caring governments has led to the spread of lawlessness and

criminal violence.

Nigeria’s illicit light weapons trade can be traced back to

the failure to execute comprehensive arms collection

programmes after the 1967-70 Civil war. It has subsequently

been fuelled by growing crime, endemic corruption and

ethno-religious conflict.

According to Dokubo C (2003), the Nigeria Firearms Act of

1959 was the main legal instrument addressing the

production, import and export of light weapons. This law

reviewed in 2001, partly because of the 12,000 people

arrested in relation to arms trafficking and illegal

possession of weapons between (1990 to 1999). Fewer than

50, of these people were successfully prosecuted.

19

In July 2000, the Federal Government of this country set up

a twelve-member National Committee on the Proliferation and

Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapon (NCPTAW)

aimed at gathering information on Proliferation of SALW and

appropriate measures to deal with the challenges.

The NCPTAW has had limited impact. It has not published its

findings, although it did by July 2001 publicly destroy 420

rifles, 492 imported pistols, 287 locally made pistols and

48 Dane guns seized by Security agencies. The exercise was

repeated in 2002, and in the late 2004 there were

particular efforts to reclaim and destroy weapon in the

Niger Delta region.

The majority of casualties about 66% in Kano riot of 2004

were SALW victims sustaining permanent disabilities.

Injuries due to SALW have increased as much as ten-fold in

urban Nigeria because most homicides are committed using

SALW. (John, Mohammed, Pinto and Nkanta (2007).

According to Hazen and Homer (2007), the problems of armed

violence and proliferation of SALW are worsened by the

inability of the Police to reduce violent crime, ensure law

20

and order and provide adequate security to the populace.

None of the Security agent currently posses the training,

resources or personnel to perform their duties effectively

due to lengthy and porous nature of Nigerian borders.

Nte (2011) posits that there is a direct link between the

acquisition of SALW and escalation conflict into full-blown

war.

The former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, in

the 2005 Vision Statement for the Police Service, stated

very clearly, the direct connection between the

proliferation of SALW and the rate of violent crimes. He

observed that, ‘our experience has shown that the higher

the proliferation of illegal arms in public, the higher the

wave of violent crime in the country’ (The Guidian; 23

January, 2005 p21). Elsewhere, the Police Chief identified

the proliferation of SALW as “one of the major factors

behind violent crime in Nigeria.” (Alemika, Etannibi E O

and Chukwuma Innocent C (eds); 2004).

2.3 PROBLEMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF SALW IN KANO STATE

21

The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is

often one of the major security challenges currently facing

Kano State and indeed the Nation Nigeria in general. The

trafficking and wide availability of these Weapons fuel

terrorism, riots, political instability and other violent

crimes and pose a threat, not only to security, but also to

sustainable development. The widespread proliferation of

Small Arms is contributing to alarming levels of arms crime

and insurgency. Nte (2011).

The criminalization and political economy of violent and

other related crime in Kano State has established a basis

for escalated, protracted and entrenched violence. Factors

that contribute to these include; ready availability of

weapons, endemic corruption, illiteracy, high youth

unemployment, weak State and lack of tolerance. All these

factors combined contribute to continuous violent conflict

and other related crime.

2.3.1 ILLEGAL ARMS IMPORTATION

We have been witnessing the illegal circulation of Small

Arms by smugglers across the land borders of neighboring

22

countries of Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. This has had

an impact not only on widespread arms banditry but also on

ethnic and religion violence and insurgency that have

claimed lives.

A remarkable source of weapons is Nigeria’s Northern

borders with Chad and Niger.

According to Chris Kwaja (2014), large caches of combat

weapons transferred from Libya after the fall of Maummar

Gaddafi were suspected to have fallen into the hands of

terrorist groups. A Sahel assessment report revealed influx

of about 420,000 returnees to Niger, Mali, Chad and Nigeria

as well as inflow of un-quantified and unspecified numbers

of ammunitions from Libya, into countries that make up the

Sahel within the West Africa region include Barkin Faso,

Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Nigeria security agencies say remnants of rebel wars in

both countries have drifted Southwards with their weapons

in to Nigeria over the past decade. Operating in large

bands of 30 to 50 armed men, they engage in banditry and

other form of violent crimes on highways in the Northern

23

Nigeria. “They are even hired as mercenaries to fight in

land disputes or in communal or religious conflict in the

area,” said a Nigeria Army Intelligence Official.

The availability and wide circulation of these arms pose

the greatest danger to peace and security, in Kano State

and the Nation in general. These weapons if gotten on the

wrong hand, undermined stability, social peace and security

and have wrought development on our economy.

2.3.2 BOKO HARAM AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARMS PROLIFERATION

Boko Haram, a militant group whose goal is to institute

Sharia law on all of Nigeria has become more proficient in

carrying out attacks, since July 2009 clash with security

forces that led to the death of its leader Ustaz Mohammed

Yusuf in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The armed Islamic groups have been attacking Police

Stations, Military facilities, Parks, Churches, Schools

among others in Kano State. This armed radical Islamic

group shocked the people of Kano State and the Nation at

large on 20 January, 2012. They launch attack on; Zone one

24

Police Headquarters Kano, Police Barracks Bompai Kano,

Immigration office and SSS Office in Kano. Bombed the

facility and killing scores of innocent individuals.

We heard stories how some Military personnel had to run

for their lives because of the superior fire-power of the

Boko Haram. If Boko Haram can launch successful attacks on

armed Government/Military personnel’s, then who is safe?

How come a Boko Haram group that was armed with bow and

arrows, cutlasses and hunting guns when their leader was

arrested and killed in 2009, now boast of superior fire-

power? This explains how easy it is to bring in arms into

our country.

2.3.3 ETHNO-RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

The Paradigm of ethnicity as demonstrated by Cohen (1974),

Nnoli 91978), Sanda (1076) and Otite (1991) is one of the

most virile tools for analyzing the problem of inter-group

conflict in any Urban community. Cultural identity,

economic factors and politics are important element in

ethnic conflict. In most cases, economic competition

25

between sections of urban community takes the outward

shape of violent ethnic conflict.

According to Nnoli, it is not the contact between people

of different groups that result to conflict but rather the

competition between them that makes one group consider the

other as “strangers” or “parasites”. Within this context,

violence can erupt between conflicting groups.

Leighton (1999) also noted that, the economic success of

Urban strangers could generate the opposition of their

hosts. Such opposition could be violently expressed.

The residential segregation of the Southern Nigeria

immigrants from the Kano indigenous people ‘Kanawa’ by the

British Colonial policies in Kano, during the British

conquest of 1903 has engendered hostility between the two

groups. This segregation was done by the British for their

selfish interest. The British express the fear that

culture-shock resulting from the contact between the

Kanawa and Christian/Southern immigrant in Kano, could

produce Mahdist (Jihadist) revolts against the colonial

administrators. They also feared that the more educated

26

Southern Nigerians could teach the Kanawas to disobey the

British administrators, thus paving way for future

insurgencies. To prevent contact between them, therefore

the Christian immigrants were settled in Sabon Gari. The

Kanawa were proscribed from living in Sabon Gari

settlements just as the Southern Nigerians, were forbidden

from residing in the walled city, Birni. (Albert 1994).

The residential segregation of the Kanawa from Southern

Nigeria immigrants engendered hostility between members of

the two groups. The first major ethno-religious violence

in Kano took place between December 18 and 29, 1980. It

was triggered by the Maitatsine sect, whose leader is

known as, Mohammed Marwa, an Islamic scholar (Tamuno

1991). Although many Kanawas considered the Maitatsine

sect as un-Islamic. On the contrary, the maitatsine sect

believed that only their leaders and themselves were

genuine Muslims.

By the late 70s, the nuisance value of Maitatsine and his

followers could no longer be tolerated by the State. The

then, State Governor, late Ahaji Abubakar Rimi accused the

27

Maitatsinists of being in possession of illegally weapons.

These illegal weapon were been used by Maitatsinists

during the 1980 Maitatsine riot in Kano. The threat posed

to Nigerian state by the Maitatsine rioters is enormous.

About 5,000 Nigerians, including Muhammed Marwa himself,

and several Police and Military men were killed.

The Kano ethno-religious riot of October 1991 was also

devastating. It was tagged the “Bonnke riot”. The major

weapons used by both groups (Muslim & Christian) were

Small arms. Mukhtar (1992). At the end of the crisis, over

500 people were recorded dead on both sides and many

properties destroyed. (News Watch; 28 October, 1991).

Religious violence in Kano is not limited to those

incidents catalyzed by factors internal to the city. In

some cases the Muslim populations in the city react

negatively to impulse from other parts of the country.

Examples, the October 2001 clash in Kano between

Christians and Muslims was, after protests against USA

bombing of Afghanistan, over 200 people were killed. In

May 2004, there was a spillover from the unrest in Plateau

28

State clashes between Christians and Muslims, over 200

people were also killed in Kano. There was also riot in

February 2006 over the Danish publication of cartoons of

Prophet Mohammed, over 600 people were killed.

2.3.4 WEAPONS AND ELECTIONS.

One stimulant for the proliferation of light weapons in

Kano State and Nigeria in general is elections. Small Arms

proliferation serves as a threat to our democratic

political development.

In 2011, it became evident that the goal of political

violence were shifting from traditional instrument

(Matches, clubs and knives) to small arms, such as locally

fabricated and imported pistols. Among gangs mostly

unemployed youths, who are being used by politicians for

both offensive and defensive purposes. Evidence could be

seen during the 2011 post-election violence which begins

in Kaduna and escalate to other Northern States, including

Kano. Thousands of people were killed.

29

Most of these political problems arises or center around

the transfer of or successions to political power. The

Nation is bedeviled with political crises, instability and

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons with which

fellow brothers and sisters are killed simply because of

their interest in politics. Thus, it is one crisis or the

other, all having their root in the quest for political

power.

According to Freedman (1966), political assassinations are

failure of the political system. It involve the deliberate

killing of a political figure, mostly with small arms. He

added that the inability to penetrate the ruling class

frequently results in political assassinations of public

figures connected with politics.

This tradition of politics in Nigeria according to the

late Professor Claude Eke (1995) “put an unusually high

premium on political power” He further point out that in

such a situation, political competition assumes the

character of warfare. And “because power is over valued,

the struggle for it is very intense and prone to

30

lawlessness. In this type of politics, violence is

endemic”. Hence the use of proliferated weapons to pursue

and/or fight leave no stone unturned to retain the

position in Nigerian politics.

The unreliability of the electoral process in countries

with matured political cultures, elections are easiest,

civilized and acceptable means to change government. In

addition, elections are the means through which those

who aspire to power seek to be voted to such position of

power. It is infact, the only democratic platform of power

succession.

Unfortunately, however, the electoral process in Nigeria

is fraught with corruption, rigging, thuggery and the use

of proliferated light weapons to intimidate the

electorates. Thus, fears of elections in Nigeria have

always been dreadful because of the unavoidable blood bath

that follows after most elections. Sometimes political

thugs and hoodlums are used to cause confusion on

elections days and most politicians and innocent Nigerians

have at one time or the other, fallen victims in the hand

of political thugs or hoodlums in Nigeria.

31

2.3.5 ARMED ROBBERY AND OTHER RELATED CRIMES

The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapon increases

the level of armed robbery and other related criminal

acts in Kano state and Nigeria in general. Armed Robbery

has recently assumed a greater source of concern to all

levels of government in Nigeria. The menace of armed

robbery and banditry and other related crimes like

kidnapping, assaults, homicide car-hijacking and

trafficking of contraband has recently contributed to the

problem of insecurity of lives and properties in the

Nation.

Despite the substantial budgetary allocation to security

agencies and the funding of various anti-robbery squads,

their operation at Federal, State and Local Government

levels, the menace of armed robbery and other related

crimes continued unabated and obviously constitutes a

threat to the state and generality of the citizenry of the

Nation.

32

According to Laurence E J (1998), the increased

availability of military style light weapons has made

crimes the number one social problem. He added that, “the

increase in lethality that comes with military style

weapons has emboldened criminals, who often are better

armed than Police or Military Forces”.

In all the problems and consequences of the proliferation

of small arms and light weapons raised above, most of

their impacts have been on civilians. You will agree with

me that the number of people killed and injured from the

use of small arms violence has increased significantly in

the past few years. As evident in Boko Haram strife,

ethno-religious crises, election violence and other acts

of violence perpetrated on daily bases in Kano state and

other parts of the country.

2.4 COMBATING THE PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT

WEAPONS.

One of the dominate features of the global community in the

1990s has been the violent breakdown of civil society in

dozens of countries through out the world. We have been

33

witnessing significant upsurge in armed banditry, communal

strife and criminal violence.

The importance of the “failed state syndrome” during this

decade can hardly be overstated. The very nature of

conflict has been transformed, from traditional combat

between Nation- States to inter/intra- communal conflict

within states.

Another defining characteristic of such threats is the fact

that widespread death and suffering resulting not from the

major conventional weapons traditionally associated with

war (tanks, aircraft and warships) but from small arms and

light weapons.

Clearly, the unchecked flow of small arms and light weapons

to areas of conflict and vulnerability represents a

significant threat to world peace and security. While it

cannot be said that such weapons are a primary cause of

conflict, their worldwide availability how cost, and ease

of operation make it relatively easy for potential

belligerents of all kind to initiate and sustain deadly

conflict.

34

Accordingly policy makers have begun to highlight the need

for new international control in this area. In a January

1998 message to the UN conference on Disarmament,

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “with regard to

conventional weapons there is growing awareness among

member- states of the urgent need to adopt measure to

reduce the transfer of small arms and light weapons. It is

now incumbent on all of us to translate this shared

awareness into decisive actions”.

2.4.1 INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS

In line with the increased attention being focused by the

international community on the dangers posed by small arms

and light weapons, the United Nations has been engaged in a

wide variety of activities to both publicize the problem

and initiate steps toward policy control. Other

international organizations are also becoming involved in

the small arms and light weapons issues, particulars as it

relates to issues of economic and human development. The

World Bank is devoting resources to issues of post-conflict

reconstruction, particularly in regard to demobilization of

combatants and their reintegration into the civil society.

35

2.4.2 REGIONAL EFFORTS

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in

1998 signed a politically binding Declaration of a

Moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture

of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which was made legally

binding in 2006. (Hazen and Horner, 2007).

In my own opinion, for the international community to

mitigate this threat, they can adopt effective regulations

to control weapon production, export, import and transfer.

Secondly, they should identify and prosecute those engaged

in illegal manufacture and trade in small arms and other

weapons. Appropriate measure should be take against

violations of any embargo. All confiscated, seized and

collected arms should be properly destroyed.

2.4.3 NATIONAL EFFORTS

The Firearms Act dated back from 1959 is the foremost

National legislation regulating small arms and light

weapons in Nigeria. The Firearms Act defines the term

“firearms” in a manner that covers the genre of weapons

36

contemplated by the definition of SALW under the UN

convention; it is also in line with the definition of

“firearms” under the UN Firearms Protocol. The firearms

provision are enforced or implemented by the; Police, Court

and NATCOM (National Committee on the Proliferation and

Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons) –

inaugurated in 2001. These are the institutional framework

for regulating SALW in Nigeria.

The reconstituted committee (NATCOM), which should be the

epicenter of the control of illegal flow of SALW, is

however incapacitated by several factors. Theses include;

under- funding, lack of technical expertise, corruption on

the part of law enforcement agencies and lack of political

will to make it work.

According to Alemika (2004). The role of the Police, which

is directly responsible for enforcing the law against

illicit weapons alongside the Court, cannot be overrated.

This not withstanding, the two institutions are weighed

down by inherent weakness and extraneous factors which

37

substantially inhibit the effective performance of their

roles.

Despite these national efforts, the rate of accumulation of

SALW is increasing and becoming endemic. As various forms

of evidence and casualties are in the recent time recorded

in Kano State and the National at large. Thus, the

proliferation of SALW in Nigeria has a destabilizing

effect. There is lack of capacity and strong legal or

effective institutional frameworks to regulate SALW and

combat this phenomenon of SALW proliferation in Nigeria,

particularly Northern part of Nigeria. (Chuma – Okoro

2011).

2.4.4 NON LEGISLATIVE MEASURES

More fundamentally, the Nigeria state is yet to deal with

the demand factors of SALW proliferation, preferring to

develop on the symptoms rather than the root causes. The

demand factors are the roots causes of SALW proliferation,

because if there is no demand there will be no supply.

Nigeria is the sources, transit and destination of SALW,

and therefore the demand factors include; mass

38

unemployment, poverty, corruptions, excessive

militarization, failure of political leadership,

misgovernance, bad leadership, poor governance, State

violence among others. Thus, the inability of the Nigeria

State to deal with demand factors of SALW proliferation

heightens the various threats to our National Security.

In my own opinion, true democracy, good governance and the

reconstitution of the Nigeria State in such a way as to be

proactive in dealing with the demand factors of SALW that

heighten the proliferation of SALW, should be the only way

out this scourge. The proliferation of small arms and light

weapons; a threat to National security.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

39

Research methodology is defined as the overall strategy

employed by a researcher in collecting and analyzing data

with a view of finding solution to the identified problem.

The chapter therefore focuses on method of data analysis,

justification or reliability of data instruments or tools

used, research population comprises of eight local

government areas in Kano Metropolitan (Kano municipal,

Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni, Nassarawa, Ungogo and

kumbotso) and sampling procedure employed and statistical

techniques employed in analyzing data.

3.2 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION/JUSTIFICATION OF DATA

This is a survey research aimed at studying the

proliferation of small arms and light weapons and their

consequences on National Security, with a special reference

to the metropolitan area of Kano State in Northern Nigeria.

In order to combine the beauty of thorough-fullness and

validity of finding of the study, a blend of both primary

source (personal interview and questionnaire) and secondary

source through periodical journals and other various

publications has been resorted to.

40

To collect data for the study, a set of 25 item

questionnaire supplemented by oral interview were used to

get information from the respondents at the place of case

study.

The sample was randomly selected and copies of the

questionnaire were made to be completed and returned for

analysis after thoroughly going through them. Although

there was no prearranged method of administration but the

researcher distributed the questionnaire by hand to the

respondents to ensure the highest degree or percentage of

return of the completed questionnaire and eventually the

entire completed questionnaire were returned.

3.3 RELIABILITY OF DATA

The 25 item questionnaire was drawn to reflect the various

hypotheses formulated for the study. Few copies of the

drawn questionnaire were circulated among the professional

in research, security personnel and colleagues for

criticisms, comments and corrections.

41

The method was restored to in order to expunge vagueness

and misinterpretation in the entire instrument constructed.

The various item questionnaires, would form part of the

going study under Appendix One.

The corrected version of the instrument was however

forwarded to the researcher’s supervisor for his own

perusal and vetting before it was used. The accepted copies

were administered by hand to the respondents and the entire

copies were dully responded to and returned.

3.4 RESEARCH POPULATION, SAMPLE SIZE AND PROCEDURE

The populations of this study were made up of selected

officer’s of; The Nigeria Airforce, Army, Police, SSS,

Customs, Immigrations and Civil Defence on one part, and

opinion leaders and policy makers (Lawyers, academicians,

Traditional Rulers) on the other part, and all numbered 50

respondents conclusively. The sample was true

representation of the place of case study – Kano State.

The sample was selected in such a manner that every element

of the population had an equal chance of being selected for

42

the study. The secondary data comprised of processed

government views, report from publications in the national

dailies, articles in magazines, journals and internet. The

sampling procedure was precisely random, because every

element of the population as inferred from above had an

equal chance of being selected.

3.5 JUSTIFICATION FOR INSTRUMENT USED, SAMPLE SELECTION

PROCEDURE, AND JUSTIFICATION FOR USING A PARTICULAR SAMPLE

The data collected for this study, were drawn through two

primary sources that is personal interview and the use of

questionnaires. The instrument was constructed in such a

manner that the entire element would have full

understanding of the phraseology employed in constructing

the instrument.

The instrument, the researcher mean is constructed in a

sample straight forward English Language to enhance better

understanding on the part of the respondents that is to say

the instrument was constructed in a way that the minds of

the respondents were not left wandering the meaning of the

individual English words employed in asking questions.

43

The instrument was aimed at gathering information relating

to proliferation of small arms and light weapon; a threat

to national security.

Although, of the sampled population of 50 respondents, 20%

or 40 were security personnel’s. While 30 or 60% were

civilians and opinion leaders (lawyers, academicians,

traditional rulers and others), all within the metropolitan

city of Kano State Nigeria.

3.6 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE USED IN ANALYSIS THE DATA

The instrument used for the study has four optional

responses which acted as indices for the individual degree

of feelings about the question being asked. The answers

vary from one to another as can be seen below

(i) Strongly Agreed = SA

(ii) Agreed = A Yes

(iii) Strongly Disagreed =SDA

(iv) Disagreed =DA No

44

Descriptive statistics is used, comprising of table

frequencies and percentages employed as techniques of data

analysis.

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION OF DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 INTRODUCTION

45

This chapter presents a general description of the data and the

results of the statistical analysis of the data. The data are

presented and analyzed, based on the findings extracted from the

questionnaires. As stated earlier, descriptive statistics

comprises of table frequencies and percentage will be used,

followed by the interpretation of findings, explaining and

discussing results obtained. Each table is followed by the

opinions of the respondents, with 10 items to be considered.

4.2 ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.2.1 TABLE ONE: PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENT BY

SEX

SEX NUMBER OF PERSONS PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS

Male 32 64%

Female 18 36%

Total 50 100%

The above result shows that 32 respondents or 64% of the sample

population were men whereas 18 respondents or 36% were female.

The result also reveals the degree of female participation in

policy making and in various facets of life, compared with

46

females of the past who were restricted to house works and

farming.

4.1.2 TABLE TWO: PERCENTAGE DISCRIPTION OF AGE GROUP

Age Group Number of Respondents Percentage of

Respondents

Below 30 years 10 20%

31years –

35years

18 36%

36years –

40years

10 20%

40years and

above

12 24%

Total 50 100%

From the above table, a focus was made on percentage

distribution of the respondents by age group. The majority of

the respondents sampled for this study, fall in between the

second age bracket i.e between 31 – 35yrs comprises of 18

respondents and represents 36% of the entire population. This

47

however further connotes that the various organizations recruit

younger personnel who grow and make a carrier which is one of

the most outstanding aspect of organizations policies about

recruitment.

Next to the above group were those who fall in between age

bracket of 40years and above. They numbered 12 and constitute

24% of the entire sample respondents. This group is been

considered to have wealth of experience in policy analysis and

decision making, base on having the highest age bracket amongst

the sample population.

4.1.3 TABLE THREE: CLASSIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL

STATUS

Marital

Status

Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Single 15 30%Married 30 60%Divorced 4 8%Widowed 1 2%Total 50 100%The above table reveals the classification of respondents based

on their marital status. The table revealed that of the 50

sampled respondents, 30 or 60% were married whereas 15 or 30% of

48

the same population were single. The divorced and widowed

numbered 5 or 10% of the population.

4.1.4 TABLE FOUR: CLASSIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS BY SOCIETAL

STATUS

Status Number of Respondents Percentage of

Respondents

Security

personnel

20 40%

Civilians/

opinion leaders

30 60%

Total 50 100%

The above table presents the respondents by societal status. The

table reveals that of the sampled population, 20 or 40% were

security personnel while 30 or 60% were civilians and opinion

leaders all within the metropolitan city of Kano State,

Nigeria. However it was further discovered from oral interviews,

that most of the respondents were either from the Northern

Nigeria or must have stayed up to 10years in Kano. Thus, having

wealth of experience on the subject matter.

49

4.1.5 TABLE FIVE: The Proliferation of Small Arms And Light

Weapons Engenders Violent And Threat to

National Security.

Response Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Yes 34 68%

No 16 32%

Total 50 100%

This result and responses from the respondents are consistent

with the already established belief that the proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapons engenders violent and threat to

National security. Since 34 respondents or 68% of the sampled

population are of this opinion, while only 16 respondents or 32%

of the sampled population declined to this fact.

4.1.6 TABLE SIX: Marginalization of certain social

group in most cases causes violent conflict

hence proliferation of Small Arms and Light

Weapons

Response Number of persons Percentage of Respondents

Yes 38 76%

No 12 24%

Total 50 100%

50

The above table indicates that 38 respondents or 76% of the

total sampled population agreed to the fact that marginalization

of certain social group ( like in the case of South-South

Nigeria) causes violent conflict and engenders proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapons. While 12 respondents or 24% of the

respondents are not in agreement to that.

4.1.7 TABLE SEVEN: Small Arms and Light Weapon

have caused the Escalation and the Intensity

of violent conflict and other related crimes

Responses Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Yes 40 80%

No 10 20%

Total 50 100%

Apparently, as seen from the table above 40 respondents or 80%

of the sampled population are of the opinion that SALW have

cause the escalation and the intensity of violent conflict and

other related crimes. While 10 or 20% or the respondents

declined to that opinion. This means that other factors like

51

economic factor can also intensify violent conflict and other

related crimes.

4.1.8 TABLE EIGHT: The porous Nature of our

Borders Influences the Proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Responses Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Yes 35 70%

No 15 30%

Total 50 100%

From the table above, 35 or 70% of the respondents believed that

the porous nature of our borders influences the proliferation of

Small Arms and Light Weapon. While 15 respondents or 30% of the

sampled population declined to this fact.

4.1.9 TABLE NINE: There is a positive correlation

between lapses on the part of Government and

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Responses Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Yes 30 60%

No 20 40%

Total 50 100%

52

The above indicates that 30 respondents or 60% of the sampled

population agreed to the fact that there is a positive

correlation between lapses on the part of government and the

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. This can be seen

on areas of corruption among government officials, weak

legislation and unsecured armories e.t.c.

While 20 respondents or 40% of the sampled population declined

to the above mentioned fact possibly because they consider other

factors like rise in crime rate and other cultural practices

(traditional rites) that encourages the proliferation of SALW in

Kano State and Nigeria in general.

4.1.10 TABLE 10: True Democracy, Good Governance and

reconstitution of the Nigeria state can help

combat the proliferation of SALW

Responses Number of

Respondents

Percentage of Respondents

Yes 45 90%

No 5 10%

Total 50 100%

53

Apparently, as seen from the table above, 45 respondents or 90%

of the sampled population are of the opinion that true

democracy, good governance and the reconstitution of the Nigeria

state can help combat the proliferation of SALW. While 5

respondents or 10% of the sampled population object to this

fact. Probably they may subscribe to the Military system of

governance.

CHAPER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 SUMMARY

54

This research is aimed at studying “THE PROLIFERATION OF

SMALL ARMS LIGHT WEAPONS, A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY” -

a case study of Kano state, Nigeria.

The dwelling factor behind the uncontrollable proliferation

of SALW were considered. Illustrating the different ways in

which widespread available of SALW affect peace, conflict,

security and development. Although the presence of SALW

does not necessarily cause conflict, it does contribute to

the level of violence and the intractability of some

conflict and other related crime. I also present the

statement of problem, state the research question, purpose

and significance of study to examine, identify and analysis

the ways in which SALW proliferation poses threat to our

National security. Related and relevant literatures

concerning causes, sources, transit and destinations of

SALW and problem and consequences of SALW were also

reviewed.

Data were collected and analyzed with the view of finding

solution to the identified problem, using questionnaires

and oral interview, employing the use of descriptive

55

statistic which comprises of table frequency and

percentages.

The data presentation, analysis and discussion gave the

following result:

- That the proliferation of small arms and light weapons

engenders violent and threat to national security.

- Marginalization of certain social group in most cases

causes violent conflict hence proliferation of small

arms and light weapons.

- That small arms and light weapons have caused the

escalation and the intensity of violent conflict and

other related crime.

- That the porous nature of our border influences the

proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

- That there is a positive correlation between lapses on

the part of government and proliferation of small arms

and light weapons.

- That true democracy, good government and

reconstitution of the Nigeria state can help combat

the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

56

5.2 CONCLUSION

The accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their

diffusion into the society has caused untold hardship to

the civilian populace, promote crimes, community crises,

insurgency, political thuggery and posed threat to socio-

economics development by diversion of our National, State

and Local Government Budget to Security. Finding a common

solution to the SALW pandemics, however, is not easy, given

the specific status of these categories of weapons. As they

facilitate and exacerbate violent crimes and pose threat to

National security.

There is an increase recognition that the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) will not be achieved unless more

is done to increase promote security, as a secure

environment is a precondition for development.

Ultimately, it is important to note that the introduction

of good government and transparency in the management of

public affairs can help to eradicate the scourge of small

arms and light weapons proliferation.

57

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

In the course of this study, the following recommendations

were made;

i. There is need for close cooperation between armed and

security forces and local inhabitants in effort to combat

the scourge of cross-border proliferation of small arms and

light weapon in Kano State and the entire Nation.

ii. There should be clear political objective and a resolute

government policy on efforts to combat the proliferation of

small arms, through its legal institutional frame work.

iii. Constant road check (road block) should be organized as a

preventive measure with the aims of apprehending the

individuals being sought and to prevent trafficking in arms

and ammunitions.

iv. There is need to secure armories belonging to armed forces

and security forces. By conducting a comprehensive

verification exercises to ensure that government arms are

not being stolen.

v. There is need for the government to embark on a survey of

local arms and ammunition so as to monitor their

production, sales and distribution.

58

vi. Government should embark on a comprehensive arms collection

programme in post-conflict environment so as to prevent

refueling of conflict and other related violent crime that

stoke arms proliferation.

vii. Government at all level, Federal, State and local

government need to partner with the private sectors to

undertake an aggressive job creation programme for Nigeria’s

teeming and idle youths.

viii. The Nigeria government should strengthen

institutions and processes of governance to enhance social

provisioning for its citizen, who are becoming increasingly

frustrated over governance failure and general inefficiency,

thereby resorting to violent crimes that increases demand

for SALWs.

ix. Private individual, NGO, CBO and government at all levels

should preach and promote peaceful co-existence amongst the

diverse ethno-religion and political groups in Nigeria. This

would help minimize the outbreak and persistence of violent

conflict that stock arms proliferation

x. The National Orientation Agency should partner with credible

Civil Society Organization (CSOs) and the media to mount

enlightenment and orientation programme on the practice to

59

crime prevention. This will enable people to appreciate the

importance of monitoring development around their

environments and to report unwholesome activities (arms

trafficking) to security agencies.

In conclusion, by considering such measure and identifying

them with the emerging International and Regional anti-

proliferation of small arms and light weapons regime ,the

Nigerian government should provide the benchmark for

building true democracy, good governance and reconstitution

of the Nigeria state in order to combat the proliferation of

small arms and light weapons.

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APPENDIX ONE

Department of Peace,Studies and Conflict

Resolution,Faculty of Arts and Social

Science,National Open University of

Nigeria. Dear Respondents,

Questionnaire on Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons

in Nigeria; A threat to National Security

I am a Master Degree Student of National Open University of

Nigeria, Kano Study Centre. Presently carrying out a research

work on the above mentioned topic in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the Award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Peace

Studies and Conflict Resolution, by National Open University of

Nigeria.

The questionnaire being presented for your completion is purely

for an academic purpose and it is designed to gather information

relating to the aforementioned subject, for security advisers,

policy makers, and other State, National and International

Institutions.

61

Please bear in mind that your responses to the questions being

asked will in no way have any negative implications, since the

investigation is merely for academic research work for the

attainment of standard requirement.

May I therefore implore with due respect that you kindly and

sincerely answer the questions below, and please, be informed

that the success of this research work is largely depending on

your willingness to answer the questions and return the complete

questionnaire.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Idoko Godwin.

NOU142548695.

Please tick at it applies to you and state categorically where

applicable.

1. Sex Male Female

2. Profession Military Police Other Security

Agent Civilian

3. Your position in your organization.

62

Management Staff Senior Staff Junior

Officer

Other Rank/File

4. Your Academic/Professional Qualifications

WASC NCE/ND HND/1st Degree Masters

Ph.D NIIA NWC Mni

PAC

CAN JNI

5. Your Age in years.

Below 30 years 31-35 years 36-40 years

41 years and above

6. Marital Status: Married Single

Divorced

Widowed

7. Your duration of service in your organization:

Probational Period 1-10 years 11-20

years 21-30 years

31-35 years Retired

8. Have you participated in any of the United Nation’s Peace

keeping operation?

Yes No

63

9. If your answer to the question above is yes, how many times

have you participated? Once Two times More

than two times

10. Have you participated in the policy making of your

organization?

Yes No

11. Proliferation of small Arms and light Weapons engenders

violent and threat to National Security? Strongly Agreed

Agreed

Strongly Disagreed Disagreed

12. Proliferation of these weapons largely depends on the

existing causes of the various threats to National

Security?

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

13. Marginalization of certain social groups in most cases

causes violent conflict hence proliferation of small arms

and light weapons.

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

14. Small arms and light weapons have caused the escalation and

the intensity of violent conflict and other related crimes.

64

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

15. Will you please list the major sources of small arms and

light weapons you know?

(i) ……………………………………………………………………….

(ii) ………………………………………………………………………

(iii) ……………………………………………………………………….

(iv) ………………………………………………………………………..

(v) ……………………………………………………………………….

16. Do you think those in government have hands in the

proliferation of small arms? Yes No

17. There is a positive correlation between the proliferation

of small arms and light weapons and insurgency.

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

18. The porous nature of our borders influences the

proliferation of small arms and light weapon? Strongly

Agreed Agreed Strongly Disagreed

Disagreed

19. Boko Haram have more superior fire-power than the

government forces.

65

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

20. There is a correlation between pre/post election violence

and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Strongly Agreed

Agreed Strongly Disagreed Disagreed

21. There is a correlation between armed robbery and other

related crimes and the proliferation of small arms and

light weapons.

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

22. There is a positive correlation between lapses on the part

of government and proliferation of small and light weapons.

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly

Disagreed Disagreed

23. The military, police and others security agents play

passive roles in proliferation of small arms and light

weapons. Strongly Agreed

Agreed Strongly Disagreed Disagreed

24. The legal institutional framework are weak hence

proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Strongly

Agreed Agreed

66

Strongly Disagreed Disagreed

25. True democracy, good governance and reconstitution of the

Nigeria state can help combat the proliferation of SALW?

Strongly Agreed Agreed Strongly Disagreed

Disagreed

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