The West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA Nigeria) has commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for their latest exercise in destroying illegal firearms. The event, held at Buhari Cantonment in Garki, Abuja, marked the fifth large-scale destruction of seized arms in the country.
According to WAANSA, the move is a critical step toward curbing the proliferation of small arms, which has fueled violent crimes, insurgency, and the booming kidnapping-for-ransom industry in Nigeria. Between May 2023 and April 2024 alone, Nigerians reportedly paid an estimated ₦2.23 trillion ($1.4 billion) in ransoms, a figure that underscores the deep economic and security toll of criminal activity.
In a statement issued at the event, WAANSA Nigeria President, Barrister Temitope Lamidi, described kidnapping as a “structured economy” that now distorts the national financial system, drives inflation, and forces farmers, particularly women, off their land. “The kidnapping industry has created untold hardship, especially for rural women who rely on farming for survival. It is heartbreaking to see how arms proliferation is crippling communities,” Lamidi said.
The destruction exercise saw over 1,316 illicit firearms publicly dismantled, signaling what officials described as Nigeria’s renewed resolve to reduce insecurity and restore confidence in law enforcement.
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WAANSA praised the NSA’s office and NCCSALW for what it called a “laudable achievement” and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s campaign against illegal arms. Security experts, however, warn that while arms destruction is symbolic, it must be matched with tighter border controls, better policing, and community intelligence to stop the flow of weapons fueling crime across the country.
As the fight against banditry and kidnapping intensifies, yesterday’s destruction of arms has been widely hailed as a turning point, but the question remains whether it will translate into lasting security relief for ordinary Nigerians.
