Nigerian authorities have arrested 29 suspects—25 men and four women—in connection with kidnapping operations and seized dangerous weapons, including AK-47 rifles allegedly linked to local blacksmiths.

The arrests were made during a targeted operation aimed at dismantling a notorious criminal network involved in abductions, Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye said in a statement posted on his X-platform.

Despite Nigeria’s strict gun control laws, the country remains West Africa’s largest market for illicit small arms, exacerbating its kidnapping and security crisis. 

A 2024 report by the Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the eighth most terrorized country in the world, underscoring the connection between widespread illegal arms and rising insecurity.

In March, Nigerian Army troops discovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in the Onicha-Olona community of Delta state.

Authorities said they seized single- and double-barreled guns, pistols, cartridges, and industrial equipment used for drilling and assembling weapons. These local workshops often create imitation firearms resembling military-grade weapons.

Nigeria’s security forces have been actively cracking down on illegal arms production. In 2021, then-President Muhammadu Buhari authorized security services to use lethal force against anyone found carrying AK-47 rifles illegally.

However, despite these efforts, the circulation of illegal arms remains widespread. 

Studies estimate that civilians in Nigeria hold approximately 6.1 million small arms, accounting for 70% of the illegal weapons circulating across West Africa.

Okoye emphasized that the recent arrests are part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and enhance public safety. Yet, the continuous influx of illegal arms, fueled by local manufacturing, continues to pose a significant challenge for Nigeria’s security agencies.