SMALLARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS PROLIFERATION AND THE SCOURGE OF BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY IN BORNO STATE

Abstract

One of the reasons Boko Haram has remained unabated is the
proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Borno State.
This is further exacerbated by the inability of the government to
genuinely address the menace thereby re-enforcing the activities
of Boko Haram group, thus, leading to loss of thousands of lives,
properties worth trillions of Naira, Inhabitant rendered displaced
while some flee to neigbouring countries as refugees, economic
activities distorted making life unbearable for the inhabitant.
Most disturbingly is that the insurgent always seem to have their
way, as the government have not been able to halt their supply
line(of arms and fund).Therefore, the thrust of this paper dwell on
the role played by proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapon
in aggravating the scourge of Boko Haram Insurgency in Borno
State. The paper is a qualitative study that rely primarily on
existing literature. The study has identified sources of funding of
Boko Haram insurgency as well as the implication for continuous
proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Borno State.
The paper found that government's efforts is yet not sufficient as
the activities of the insurgent group have devastating effect on the
people of the Borno State. More and more people are killed at
every passage of the day. The paper recommended among others
that the Federal government should ensure better policing of the
country's porous land borders in order to intercept the deadly
weapons brought in through the Sahara Desert. Also, there is need
for synergy between and among the Government at the local,  regional and international level against money laundering and
terrorism financing to track and intercept such illicit financial
flows.