Weapons Looted During Libyan Conflict Found with Extremists in Nigeria – UN
The United Nations has raised serious concern that some weapons looted during the 2011 conflict in Libya have ended up in the hands of extremist groups operating in Nigeria. Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, expressed concern over the long-term impact of illicit arms trafficking, noting that the uncontrolled flow of weapons from Libya has created a cycle of instability in the Sahel and West Africa. According to UN officials, arms from Libya’s vast stockpiles were smuggled across porous borders into several Sahel countries, including Niger, Chad, Mali and Nigeria, where they now fuel terrorist violence and organised crime. Security analysts say the uncontrolled flow of these weapons has “created a cycle of instability in the region,” empowering insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as […]