The United Nations has confirmed that weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 conflict eventually made their way to extremist groups operating in Nigeria and other Sahel nations.
This revelation came during a UN meeting on illicit firearms in New York, where officials traced the flow of arms from the fallen Gaddafi arsenals to Boko Haram factions and other non-state actors.
The development underscores a long-standing security failure: despite repeated warnings, successive Nigerian governments have failed to adequately secure borders or curb the influx of sophisticated weaponry.
The UN’s disclosure adds to growing concerns about the regionalisation of terrorism, with arms fuelling violence in the Lake Chad basin.
While the Nigerian military claims progress against insurgents, the continued availability of Libyan weapons suggests the fight is far from over.
Ordinary citizens bear the brunt, as these arms enable kidnappings, attacks on communities, and prolonged instability.
