The Effects of Arms Smuggling in Trans-Border Planning and Business Activities: The Nigeria - Benin Borders Experience

Many countries of West African sub-region had been through series of violent conflicts, some of which lasted for over a decade, while a good number of these countries are facing the problem of insurgencies as a result of the growing tendency of armed ethnic militia, others are faced with the problem of kidnapping, armed robbery and assassination. These are occurrences that are promoted by the availability and acquisition of small arms. The level of sophistication of the weapons used during these crises is a reflection of unchecked smuggling of arms and rising weak security structures at the borders. Smuggling of arms across the borders is a catalyst to the development of ethnic militia and armed conflicts in the sub-region, it promotes availability of arms, it flourishes and increase community violence and promotes criminal activities such as armed robbery and assassination. This paper tries to determine the socio-economic status of trans-border communities and then identify some of the factors that had led to arms smuggling business in the area. Findings revealed that several factors were believed to have contributed to the trends of arms smuggling in the sub-region. These include the history of armed conflict in the sub-region, the political landscape, the large numbers of weapons available, traditional use of weapons, long and vulnerable borders and coastlines, the nomadic groups and the existence in some countries of large armed militias outside the control of states.