The proliferation of small arms and light weapons in internal conflict: The challenge of human security in Nigeria

At the end of the Cold War, a surplus of small arms and light weapons exacerbated civil unrest throughout the Third World. West Africa has been particularly susceptible to this unfortunate situation. This research applied a human-interest approach in analyzing small-arms proliferation by examining perceived threats to human security rather than focusing on state security. The study was conducted within the most populous West African country of Nigeria with concentration on the religious, subcultural, and modernization issues facing the country. The uneven distribution of power and disenfranchisement of specific ethnic groups that fuel the sense of insecurity and civil strife are a collective focus of the investigation. This study examines the effects of demand-side dynamics upon militarization in civil conflict. The relatively new nature of the approach and dearth of related literature are also discussed. Data for the case studies were collected using the following three techniques: (1) initial field interviews with key informants, (2) detailed interviews conducted in both a structured and unstructured manner through focus-group discussions, and (3) field visits to conflict zones. Data analysis involved the classification of data into thematic domains that included the identification of sentinel encounters, episodes or practices precipitating violent conflict that led to small-arms proliferation, and the subsequent militarization of conflict. This study discusses organizations, groups, and subcultures, as well as the relationships among them that influence conflict. Information relevant to policy making is presented by providing a groundbreaking, in-depth analysis of internecine conflict within Nigeria. The findings of this research will provide policy makers with strategic options for containing the problem of arms proliferation effectively, and recommendations are made toward concrete measures for reducing its spread within Nigeria and the balance of West Africa.