Weapons looted during Libya conflict in 2011 now in hands of extremists in Nigeria – United Nations

The United Nations has revealed that weapons looted during the 2011 conflict in Libya later resurfaced in Nigeria, where they were found in the possession of extremist groups operating across parts of the country and the wider Sahel region.

The disclosure was made by the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, during a briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the global spread of illicit firearms and their impact on international peace and security.

According to her, arms stolen or diverted during the uprising that led to the overthrow of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi did not disappear after the conflict ended, but instead circulated across borders, eventually reaching countries including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.

She warned that some of the weapons were later recovered from extremist groups operating within the region, underscoring how arms from a single conflict zone can continue to fuel instability years after the original war has ended.

“The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons; it stays, and it continues to harm people,” Nakamitsu said.

The UN disarmament chief stressed that the continued movement of illicit firearms remains a major challenge to peacebuilding efforts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

She added that weapons retained by armed groups and local actors often contribute to cycles of violence, insecurity, and organised crime across borders.

Nakamitsu further noted that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is closely tied to broader security concerns, including terrorism, human rights abuses, and gender-based violence.

She also warned that emerging technologies such as 3D-printed firearms, ghost guns, and fragmented weapon trafficking networks are making it increasingly difficult for authorities to track illicit arms movements.

The United Nations has repeatedly raised concern over the spread of illegal weapons across the Sahel, warning that they continue to undermine stability and security in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

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