National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu says the proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons is a major driver of insecurity in Nigeria, including banditry, terrorism, and communal violence. He makes the assessment at a workshop in Abuja reviewing lessons from Nigeria’s 2016 National Baseline Survey on illicit small arms and light weapons.
Ribadu’s remarks align across the two outlets, which both frame illicit weapons as a central factor enabling armed groups and violence in affected communities. The reporting emphasizes that the workshop is focused on applying findings from the 2016 survey, suggesting the discussion is about lessons learned and how they may inform future security responses. Neither outlet provides new specific figures or named incidents, but both present the same core message: that illegal weapons circulation contributes directly to ongoing insecurity.
Together, the coverage reflects a consistent official view from Ribadu, with both publications reporting his position in a similar context and forum. The difference is mainly in phrasing, with each outlet using slightly different wording to describe the link between illicit arms and forms of violence.
