Gun Laws and Nigeria’s Security Crisis

Nigeria faces a complex web of security challenges, from armed attacks, insurgency and the proliferation of illicit arms. These issues call for immediate restoration and safeguarding of lives and property in the country. Recently, there have been calls from groups and individuals advocating for Nigerians to be permitted to carry firearms for self-defence. This has stirred debates regarding the potential consequences of loose gun laws on Nigeria’s already fragile and deteriorating security situation.

The narrative of Nigeria under the siege of violent conflicts took a more worrisome dimension in January 2024 with the wave of kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory. This is additional to the series of attacks by gunmen, banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and communal conflicts impacting communities across the country. Distant from that, the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders has helped arms smuggling into the country, adding to existing security challenges. Nigerian authorities are in an urgent race to get a grip on the estimated 6.2 million illicit arms circulating in the country. Amid the incessant killings are the calls from various quarters for the government to liberalise gun laws. Proponents of the change argue that it will allow citizens to lawfully defend themselves and serve as a possible deterrence for would-be assailants. Another view is that liberal gun laws could boost the efficiency of informal security in times of emergency.

While the intentions behind calls may be well-meaning, such a policy shift’s potential risks and trade-offs cannot be overlooked. Among the concerns is the possibility of exacerbating the country’s pervasive violence and insecurity. Nigeria is presently awash with illegal arms, serving as a playground for a myriad of criminal networks and armed groups. Many of these entities have been sustained through the misuse and abuse of small arms. Loosening gun laws without adequate measures to enforce control could inadvertently empower criminal networks, entrenching more violence and bloodshed. Furthermore, efforts at enforcing Nigeria’s 65-year-old Firearms Act, which restricts gun ownership and possession, have failed to address the problems that come with illicit arms. Thus, the liberalisation of gun ownership could potentially open the floodgates for chaos.

Elucidating further, specific case studies that faced such policy changes provide more insight. For instance, the United States recorded a high incidence of gun violence after the imposition of some laxer laws in some states. This can imply that however strong the link between gun ownership and security is, it needs to be well harmonised because this decision is inclined towards infringing on individual rights in exchange for public safety. Contrastingly, countries like Australia and Japan have put stringent gun control legislation after witnessing high acts of violence. In these countries, gun-related crimes and violent crime reduced to a particularly significant percentage. The cases demonstrate that such an approach succeeds if it implies stricter regulations, thorough background checks and more selective licensing.

Addressing Nigeria’s security crisis requires an encompassing approach that takes cognisance of the intricate dynamics between gun laws, illicit arms trafficking, and security needs to be adopted. The supporters of the more lenient ruling on gun possession are in favour of vehement self-defence and deterrence, but the risks that come with such a policy change need to be carefully examined. Nigerian authorities need to focus on the administrative steps that ensure widespread control of firearms, bolster responsible law enforcement practices and regional collaboration to fight the spread of illicit arms and violence.

The approach to dealing with the security crisis should also address underlying issues, which can be achieved through socioeconomic development, more robust governance, and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies. With the preceding established, Nigeria can aim to deliver stability and safety to its citizens, thereby unlocking opportunities for renewed development and prosperity.