Lagos — A Non-Governmental Organisation, Women in Peace-building Program (WIPNET) under the aegis of West Africa Network for Peace-building Nigeria (WANEP) has decried the problem of arms proliferation in Nigeria which has adverse impact on vulnerable groups such as women and children.

Speaking at a conference in commemoration of International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament and media presentation of a publication titled "From Dispute To Dialogue", held recently at its secretariat in Lagos, the Programme Manager, Mrs. Bridget Osakwe, said "in Nigeria, these weapons find their way into wrong hands, leading to conflagration of armed conflict and civil crises perpetuated by armed militia groups and mercenaries".

A typical instance, according to her, is the formation and activities of multiple militia groups in the Niger Delta and other flash-points of armed conflict in the country.

Despite efforts being made by the government and civil society groups, the problem of arms proliferation in Nigeria has soared alarming high, having adverse impact on vulnerable groups such as women and children, she said..

She noted that easy access and use of arms by clusters of militia groups in the region have turned hostage taking, pipeline vandalisation and oil bunkering into a lucrative business for large population of youths in the area.

"Data shows that in the past decades numerous incidence of violent conflicts in the region have cost the lives of over 10,000 people and led to more than 45,000 internal displacement with the bulk of victims as women and children," she said.

Osakwe noted that for WIPNET and WANEP Nigeria, gun violence remains yet another form of violence against women. "Even when the arms are committed wit boots or fist or weapons, this violence is related in pervasive discrimination, which subjugates women and deters them from attaining their full potentials, and this occurs in a variety of contexts and cuts across boarders religions and class". To her, "this is not because violence against women is natural or inevitable, but is rooted in suppressive social and cultural systems that increase the vulnerability of women to such violence".

She therefore called for commitment to arms control and urged other women groups to partner to form a strong network that will monitor report and fight the proliferation of arms, and gun violence in Nigeria using the principle of 'naming and shaming'.

WIPNET also invited other civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders to join in building a partnership for the development of National Action Plan against small arms.

Speaking to THISDAY, the National Network Coordinator (NNC), Mr. Chukwuemeka Eze, said to see that peace building is effective in the country, his organisation would raise a critical mass of a group of women at the community level, who would be able to influence policy decision at both community and state level.

"We are doing this through capacity building in leadership skill, conflict prevention skill, mediation. NNC now form a network of people that regularly exchanges experiences and ideas on issues affecting women thereby contributing to national document". He disclosed that WANEP has a structure runs regional to the national, has a regional office and fifteen national networks.