The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, revealed that a large portion of the illicit weapons in circulation across Nigeria originally belonged to the Federal Government. Ribadu made this assertion on Thursday during an arms destruction exercise organized by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Abuja.
According to Ribadu, corrupt individuals within Nigeria’s security agencies have been responsible for diverting these weapons to non-state actors, including terrorists and bandits. He condemned the actions of security personnel who facilitate the illegal flow of arms, exacerbating the nation’s security challenges.
The alarming rise in insecurity across Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, has been marked by widespread banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping for ransom. Ribadu’s statement highlights a key factor contributing to the deepening crisis, which has since spread to other parts of the country.
The NSA’s comments underscore the urgent need for reforms within the security apparatus to curb the internal corruption that has fueled the arms proliferation feeding violent groups.
