UN: Weapons Looted During Libyan War Found With Terrorist Groups In Nigeria

The United Nations says some weapons looted during the Libyan conflict in 2011 have ended up in the hands of extremist groups in Nigeria.

Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN under-secretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs, stated this at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, as delegates gathered to address the global spread of illicit firearms.

The UN’s top disarmament official expressed regret that weapons continue to fuel violence in communities long after wars end, causing devastation across once peaceful communities.

She cited “Libya, where weapons looted or diverted during and after the 2011 conflict, which ended the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, later surfaced across the wider Sahel region, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria”.

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“Some were subsequently found in the hands of extremist groups, illustrating how arms from one conflict can destabilise neighbouring countries years later. The end of the conflict does not mean the end of the circulation of those weapons; it stays, and it continues to harm people,” Ms Nakamitsu said.

In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the UN said the proliferation of small arms can undermine peacebuilding efforts long after fighting subsides. Weapons retained by armed groups, militias or communities for self-protection can contribute to renewed violence and instability, she stressed.

According to her, illicit weapons are also linked to human rights abuses, terrorism and sexual and gender-based violence.

“It is not just a security issue. It is also about peacebuilding. It is about human rights. It is also about development,” Ms Nakamitsu said.

She said years after conflicts fade from the headlines, the weapons used to fight them often continue to circulate, crossing borders, fuelling crime and undermining an often-fragile peace.

“Wars end, but unfortunately, the weapons that are used in that particular conflict would not be under full control,” Ms Nakamitsu said. “They continue to circulate. They are sometimes hidden. They are brought across borders.”

She expressed concerns that the emergence of ghost guns, 3D-printed firearms and increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks are creating new challenges for governments worldwide.

“Those weapons or weapon parts, if they are disassembled and then trafficked, are more difficult to trace,” Ms Nakamitsu said.

UN member states adopted an action programme in 2001, committing to strengthen national legislation, improve stockpile security, combat illicit trafficking, and expand international cooperation.

A major milestone followed in 2005 with the adoption of the International Tracing Instrument, which established global standards for marking, recording, and tracing illegal weaponry.

The framework helps investigators identify where illicit weapons originated and how they entered illegal markets, while reducing the risk of diversion from legal stockpiles.

Boko Haram

The UN supports implementation through technical assistance, policy guidance, and capacity-building programmes aimed at helping governments secure weapons stockpiles, improve tracing systems and strengthen border controls.
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U.S. Sentenced Prison Official To Jail For Collecting Bribe

Karen Torres, 50, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to one year and one day in federal prison for receiving a bribe as a public official.

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As part of her sentence, Ms Torres is required to forfeit $43,550 to the United States, which represents the proceeds of her criminal offence. She pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026.

United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court records, Ms Torres was a public official employed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a correctional officer.

Prison Official

She worked at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County.

Between May 2022 and March 3, 2025, Ms Torres introduced contraband (marijuana, cigarettes, and K2) into FCC Coleman in exchange for $43,550 in bribes from inmates.
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Police Uncover Illegal Gun Factory, Arrest Seven In Yobe‎ State

The Yobe State Police Command has uncovered an illegal firearms fabrication workshop in Potiskum Local Government Area and arrested seven suspected gunmakers.

The command said the suspects were arrested during a raid on a blacksmith workshop at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road in Potiskum on Monday.

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This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim.

‎‎“The Yobe State Police Command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat crime and criminality across the state,” the statement read.

According to the statement, operatives of the Potiskum Area Command, in collaboration with officers from the Divisional Police Headquarters, carried out the operation following intelligence on the alleged illegal fabrication of firearms in the area.

Abdulkarim said the suspects were arrested while several exhibits were recovered from the workshop.

‎“The operation was carried out following credible intelligence on the activities of some blacksmiths engaged in the illegal fabrication of firearms,” Abdulkarim said.

He added that the suspects were in custody and undergoing investigation to identify possible collaborators, buyers and the intended use of the weapons.

Police Rescue 2 Kidnap Victims

Abdulkarim said the Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, had ordered an expanded investigation to identify other illegal firearms fabrication centres and assess the security threat posed by such activities.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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