The armed conflict in northeastern Nigeria and the greater Lake Chad Basin region has raged for over a decade. While Boko Haram, a non-state armed group responsible for attacks on both security forces and civilians, has gained significant attention, less focus has been given to the various non-state groups fighting against them. This report examines four of these groups, known as volunteer security outfits (VSOs), that are active in Borno state – the epicentre of the insurgency. While the focus on VSOs – especially the Civilian Joint Task Force – has tended to be on their deeds and misdeeds, this report highlights the manner in which VSOs have obtained and managed their weapons. This has important policy and programmatic implications, not only for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, but also for other countries facing similar insurgencies and exploring partnerships with armed civilians to supplement state security forces’ abilities to uphold law and order and advance peace and security.
Based on research conducted in Nigeria between July 2023 and March 2024, the report provides an overview of four VSOs in Borno: the Borno State Hunters Association, the CJTF, the Kesh Kesh vigilante group and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria. It investigates the firearms these groups possess and how they acquire them, while offering insights into the emerging good practice for the oversight and management of VSOs’ conventional arms and ammunition.
The report aims to shed light on state approaches to arming community security entities, offering key questions for policymakers and program developers on how these efforts impact community protection and safety as well as broader state security.
Citation: Eric G. Berman, “Exploring the Acquisition and Management of Arms among Volunteer Security Outfits in Nigeria’s Borno State”. Geneva: UNIDIR, 2024.