The proliferation and diversion of privately made firearms and other non-industrial small arms and light weapons pose a growing threat to security across the world.  Some regions have attempted to regulate rather than prohibit manufacturing, but these efforts are hindered by implementation challenges and diversion. Additionally, new technological developments and the ease with which information and expertise can be shared online have decentralized production, contributing to the global diffusion of the tools and skills necessary to build small arms and light weapons.

Craft firearms are deeply embedded in West Africa’s culture and history, often being used for hunting, livestock protection, and in traditional ceremonies. However, these firearms are increasingly being used in crimes and civil disturbance.   

Based on extensive research in four Nigerian states, the Briefing Paper Handmade and Deadly: Craft Production of Small Arms in Nigeria finds that the use of craft-produced weapons in firearm-related crime in those states ranges from 32 per cent (Adamawa state) to 69 per cent (Plateau state).