“HOW AL-QAEDA, BOKO HARAM SMUGGLE ARMS INTO NIGERIA”

Proliferation
of  small arms and light weapons is increasingly and dangerously becoming
a transnational organized crime in Nigeria with Boko Haram’s insurgency,
re-emerging Niger Delta crisis and escalating kidnapping, communal crises and
armed robbery in the South East providing impetus for arms trafficking. Some
border towns, particularly in the North Eastern flank, serve as a hub for
trafficking of arms as well as stolen goods, drugs and hostages by criminals,
terrorists and their collaborators. The recent kidnap of a French family at a
border town between Nigeria and Cameroon is an example. Similarly, many arms
and ammunition of various types, sizes and calibre have been intercepted and
confiscated by security agencies. The recurrent detection and recovery of cache
of arms, ammunition and Improvised Explosive Device Materials by the Joint Task
Force, JTF, further buttresses the point. Similarly, the occasional recovery of
stolen goods and hard drugs from criminals and terrorists’ camps or hideouts is
an indication that the illicit trade has been on the rise in recent times.

Of concern is the discovery that despite the
efforts of security agencies, the “merchants of death” continue to engage in
arms trafficking/ trading through covert means largely aided and abetted by the
porous nature of the Nigerian borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Recently,
the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Services stated that the
Service had discovered hundreds of illegal routes in Nigeria that link or lead
to some neighbouring African countries.

Nigeria’s borders are massive with hundreds of
footpaths crisscrossing to neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger
with links to Mali, Libya and Sudan.  From conservative estimate by
locals, there are well over 250 footpaths from Damaturu/Maiduguri axis that
link or lead direct to Cameroon, Chad or Niger. These paths, which are mostly
unknown to security agencies, are unmanned, unprotected and have continued to
serve as conveyor belts for arms and ammunitions trafficking into Nigeria.

It is disheartening and unfortunate that the
“merchants of death” have since devised methods to beat security agencies at
the borders, chief among them, through the footpaths. These methods include the
use of camels, donkeys and cows to traffic arms, ammunition and drugs such as
cocaine into Nigeria. The fact that the weapons are small, light and
collapsible makes it easy to be concealed and moved on camels and donkeys’ back
in a specially crafted skin or thatched bags mainly meant for the illegal
“expedition” undetected. Similarly, some cows and grains merchants in the
North- East sub – region of the country device  means of hiding cache of
arms and ammunition in empty fuel tankers, vehicle engines and bags of grains.

The “grains” are transported in large number via
trucks, trailers, lorries and old model pickup vans and jeeps with little
attention given to them by security agents. The use of Jega type of tricycles (
KEKE-NAPEP) as well as camels, donkeys, and cows (moving in flocks) to deceive,
hide and conveniently traffic arms in some parts of the North are ways hitherto
unknown, not well exposed or documented. Their capacity for arms trafficking is
beginning to be uncovered and is being curtailed by security agencies. The
security situation in the JTF Operation RESTORE ORDER area of responsibility
forced the task force to take on additional responsibility to trace sources of
arms and ammunition to Boko Haram insurgents, how the arms are trafficked and
are also taking measures to block them. This is one way of effectively
checkmating terrorism in Nigeria – destroy its centre of gravity! And this
seems to be a task that has so far proved difficult but necessary to be
accomplished if the war against insurgency is to be effective and successful.

Similarly,
the Libyan and Malian rebels are desperate to exchange arms for money to Boko
Haram terrorists, their financiers and collaborators as the sect has since been
affiliated to Al-Qaida in the Maghreb. This has added to the overwhelming
challenge of the influx of illegal aliens, arms, ammunitions and sophisticated
IED materials into the country and an efficient and effective fight against
terrorism. Additionally, the water ways/ seaports provide havens for arms
trafficking through ships and speed boats on high seas and the use of canoes in
the creeks. The exchange of stolen crude oil for arms/ ammunition is a well
known “trading activity” nurtured and ferociously protected by militants or sea
pirates and their financiers and collaborators with the possible connivance of
unscrupulous law enforcement agents in the Niger Delta. This is one major
source of arms and ammunition that strengthens militants’ arms and ammunition
holding not only in the Niger Delta but also in the South East and South Western
parts of the country.

Security agencies at the borders and seaports
have severally complained of the porosity of the nation’s borders and
waterways. The problem of porous borders is compounded by inadequate personnel,
patrol vehicles, surveillance helicopters and equipment. Consequently, most of
the borders are leaky and this makes effective control of intruders, smugglers
and “merchants of death” a mirage. The vastness of the nation’s borders in the
face of these challenges bring to the fore the need for a rethink on the
management and security of the Nigeria’s borders and seaports – without which
effective fight against insurgency, arms trafficking and proliferation will
remain an optical illusion. There must be innovative technology; sound
policies, proficient process that will help protect our borders. It is
worrisome that the exact number of illegal routes and means through which
illegal aliens, arms and ammunition are trafficked into the country are largely
unknown by the nation’s security system.

The use of innovative technology – radars and
alarm systems- are major ways developed countries utilize to monitor and secure
their borders. Some radars can be used as primary detection sensor for long
range remote surveillance platforms. The ability to detect slow moving targets,
even in complex mountainous, thickly forested terrains and large open areas
make some radars such us Blighter Radar ideal for remote surveillance and
detection of vehicles and people trying to cross borders illegally.

In remote areas, it is common for intruders to
follow natural routes across the land, valleys, mountain paths or animal
tracks. In these instances, Mobile Surveillance System provides a cost
effective way of monitoring key areas with limited resources. Similarly, Blighter
Radar, unlike traditional Air Surveillance Radar, can effectively survey both
the land and low air zone simultaneously.

Correspondingly, the fundamental problem of
border security, arms trafficking, efficient and effective fight against
terrorism in Nigeria can be linked to what Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi tersely
identified as institutional fragmentation, intelligence and policy
non-coordination among the security agencies. These challenges are real and
must be addressed for the fight against terrorism, arms proliferation and
border security to be effective.

* Musa, a lieutenant
colonel in Nigerian Army, is the spokesperson for Operation Restore Order,
Maiduguri, Borno State