Buhari Raises Alarm Over Influx Of Weapons From Russia-Ukraine War

President Muhammadu Buhari has raised alarm over the influx of weapons from the Russia-Ukraine war into the Lake Chad region. 

The president made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

The countries on the Lake Chad region include Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the Republic of Niger. 

President Buhari who is also the Chairman of the Summit lamented over the proliferation of small arms and light weapons while calling for the reawakening of border security of the countries. 

He added that the Russia-Ukraine war amongst other conflicts in the Sahel region of West Africa had compounded the Boko Haram terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.

While noting that a lot has been achieved in the war against Boko Haram terrorists, Buhari said the terrorists' threat still exists. 

In a statement signed and issued by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president said: “I am glad to inform my dear brothers that in keeping with that decision, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has since then, successfully conducted three major operations: Ops‘YANCIN TAFKI (I&II) and Ops Lake Sanity I, with, the fourth one, Ops Lake Sanity II, being planned. 

"The next phase of the operation will take cognizance of lessons learnt from previous exercises and effectively consolidating the gains attained by preceding Ops.

“I am glad to note that during the execution of Ops Lake Sanity I, regrouping terrorists in the Lake Chad Islands were effectively decimated.

“It must however be stated that despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, the terrorist threats still lurks in the region.

“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in Lake Chad Region. 

"A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunitions procured to execute the war in Libya, continues to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel.

"Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter to the region.

“This illegal movement of arms into the region has heightened the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which continues to threaten our collective peace and security in the region. 

"There is therefore, the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by our border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region."