Proliferation of Arms and Weapons in the South-South Region of Nigeria

Insecurity in Nigeria has taken different dimensions posing challenges to national peace and security. The uncontrolled accumulation and illicit spread of small arms and light weapons in the South-South region of Nigeria has become a great threat to national security. The study employed the use of both secondary and primary data. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources; key in-depth interviews (KIIS) and questionnaire elicited information from the various respondents in the region. The study adopted frustrations aggression and failed state theories to explain the bane of the menace. The study examined historiography of small arms and light weapons proliferation in the region; investigated the factors responsible for the spread; evaluated the challenges of the menace in the region to national security; assessed the efforts taken by the government to checkmating the spread; and interrogated the arm control strategies for sustainable peace in the region. The spread has exposed some intrigue politics power play effects in the region. It recommended that the existing Presidential Committee on SALWs Proliferation be upgraded to a National Commission among others.