Porous Borders, Small Arms Proliferation, and Insecurity in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Border security is critical and a necessity for the protection of lives and properties within a given territory. Nigeria land borders have become free entry and exit points for smugglers of all manner of contraband goods such as small arms who carry out their illicit activities with little or no reservations. Irrespective of where the border is located within the country and its geographic nature, porosity is a common feature shared by all borders in the country. The connection between porous borders, arms proliferation, and insecurity can be explained thus: porous borders paves ways for free flow of all forms of small arms in and out of Nigeria and most of this arms are found in the hands of non-state actors who use these weapons to ferment trouble and make the society hostile, ungovernable, and insecure. Nigeria’s extreme porous borders are a major cause of national security threat and may remain so for some time. This is because these borders both land and marine apart from being vast, are inadequately policed. The study examines the relationship between porous border, small arms proliferation, and insecurity in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study highlights the role of border security in finding lasting solutions to the security challenges confronting the country.