Libya war weapons fueling terrorism in Nigeria, UN confirms

By Florence Joshua

The United Nations has confirmed that weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 civil war have ended up in the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and across the Sahel region, worsening insecurity and armed violence.

The warning was issued by the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, during a meeting on illicit firearms proliferation at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Nakamitsu said arms diverted during and after the conflict that toppled former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continue to fuel violence years after the war ended.

According to her, weapons looted from Libya have resurfaced in several countries across the Sahel, including Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso, where some have been recovered from extremist groups.

She noted that the situation highlights how weapons originating from a single conflict can spread across borders and undermine peace and security in neighbouring countries for years.

“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons,” Nakamitsu said, warning that arms often remain outside government control and are trafficked through illicit networks.

The UN official described the proliferation of small arms and light weapons as one of the greatest threats to peace, security and development in conflict-affected regions.

She explained that firearms retained by armed groups, militias and communities seeking self-protection frequently contribute to renewed cycles of violence, while also fueling terrorism, human rights abuses and gender-based violence.

Nakamitsu further warned that emerging technologies such as ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms are creating new challenges for law enforcement agencies worldwide.

She said traffickers increasingly transport weapons in separate parts across borders, making it more difficult for authorities to trace their origin and movement.

The warning comes amid longstanding concerns by security experts that weapons from Libya have strengthened terrorist and criminal networks operating across West Africa.

For Nigeria, where authorities continue to battle insurgency, banditry and other forms of armed violence, the UN says tackling illicit arms flows remains critical to achieving lasting peace and stability.