By Erasmus khide
THE proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria has been a recurring decimal in the country’s security tragedy. One tragic phenomenon that has garnered significant attention in recent times is the seeming hypocrisy and the transformation of Dane guns into AK-47 rifles or the transformation of AK-47 rifles into Dane guns for the nation’s overlord Fulani terrorist tribes.
On the 10th of March, 2025, Fulani terrorists sacked four communities in Ondo State, killing 20 farmers altogether.
Bandits launched a series of midnight attacks on several camps within the Ala Elefosan area, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The affected camps include Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun camp, and Aba Alajido camps. The attacks displaced residents and caused widespread fear and uncertainty in the community. A week later, Amateku Vigilante Corps arrested 114 purported Fulani hunters with Dane guns and dogs linked to the burning and killings of victims of attacks and sent them to northern Nigeria. Here’s the conundrum: did they use Dane guns or AK-47s for the said attacks?
Dane guns, also known as locally-made guns, have been an integral part of Nigeria’s rural communities for decades. Traditionally used for hunting and self-defense, these guns were often crafted by local blacksmiths using readily available materials. Dane guns were typically single-barreled, muzzle-loading firearms that fired a single shot before requiring reloading.
In recent years, however, there has been a noticeable shift in the type of firearms used by non-state actors, including herdsmen, bandits, and other militant groups. The AK-47 rifle, a more sophisticated and lethal firearm, has become increasingly prevalent in these circles. This raises questions about how these groups are acquiring these firearms and what factors are driving this metamorphosis from Dane guns to AK-47s.
During President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, hell was let loose when he openly granted visa-on-arrival to the Niger Republic citizens and his Fulani ethnic brothers to swarm the country, unhindered. Since then our borders have been thrown open. Forthwith, our borders have become porous, making it easy for firearms to be smuggled into the country, thereby fueling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
His near-satanic administration later attributed the nation’s security woes to conflict and instability of some African governments elsewhere. Having become overwhelmed with the total breakdown of security, President Buhari told Nigerians then that the ongoing conflicts in the Sahel region, Libya, and other parts of West Africa have led to the proliferation of firearms, which are often smuggled into Nigeria.
Buhari’s deliberate economic incentives for his radicalized Islamic terrorists were never lost on us. The lucrative nature of cattle rustling, kidnapping, and other criminal activities suddenly created an economic boom for the Fulani invaders to acquire more sophisticated firearms, such as AK-47s, which was a speedy graduation from the Dane guns.
Under Buhari’s administration, Nigeria’s pathetic was aggravated by the total collapse of the security architecture and wholesale state failure and weak institutions. The failure of state institutions, including the security agencies, to effectively address the security challenges facing the country has created a power vacuum that non-state actors, like Fulani terrorists, have been exploiting.
At the time Nigerians were crying against the Fulani terrorists invasion on the farmlands and coordinated raping, maiming and killings, Buhari’s government gave orders to all the nation’s security apparatus to mop up licensed Dane guns, barrels guns and pump-action guns from their owners across the country in order to ease the Fulani terrorists dominance. Meanwhile, the Fulani were granted unhindered passages to ferry their Dane guns, which turned out to be AK-47s in most cases, and were speedily granted bails on orders from above.
Buhari simply suspended the law of the land, which excludes non-states from possessing firearms, except for certain categories of persons, namely, licensed gun owners. That’s individuals who have met the eligibility criteria and have been issued a license by the relevant authorities. Second is firearm dealers. That’s those authorized dealers who have been granted a license to sell firearms and ammunition. Third is the security personnel. That’s members of the armed forces, police, and other security agencies who are authorized to carry firearms as part of their official duties.
President Tinubu has a choice to either levitate Nigeria from the dark hole his predecessor has plunged the nation into by strengthening border security or the nation will collapse on his shoulders. But he would be remembered for it if he chose to enhance border security to prevent the smuggling of firearms into the country.
Second, Tinubu must address economic incentives to check insecurity by implementing policies that have direct impacts on citizens to discourage acquisition of firearms, such as creating alternative livelihoods for those involved in cattle rustling and kidnapping. Third, reform state institutions, including the security agencies, to ensure they are effective and accountable in addressing the security challenges facing the country.
Some of the root causes plaguing the nation’s security agencies insecurity are economic inequality, diversion of security funds, total neglect of police in terms of welfare, most especially post-service welfare, completely flawed rule of law, corrupt judiciary, faulty criminal administrative justice procedures and admissibility of evidence during judicial proceedings and trials of criminals. When there are delays of criminal trials in the court of law, it creates room for them to escape punishment. Lastly, the political influence is destroying the functionality of security agencies, thereby creating parallel roles amongst various security agencies and competition for relevant purposes.
Ultimately, the metamorphosis of Dane guns to AK-47s or from AK-47s to Dane guns is a symptom of deeper structural issues that must be addressed to ensure the security and stability of Nigeria. Otherwise, Nigerians will continue to seek self-help as a result of security failure and slow dispensation of justice.
Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com
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