ABSTRACT
SMALL FIREARMS PROLIFERATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY PEACEBUILDING AND ADULT LEARNING IN RURAL ZAMFARA STATE
Journal: Social Values and Society (SVS)
Author: Amina Abdullahi, Idris Wada Aujara
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
DOI: 10.26480/svs.02.2025.115.119
This paper investigates the proliferation of small firearms and its implications for community peacebuilding and adult learning in rural communities of Zamfara State, Nigeria. Using an empirical descriptive survey of residents, traditional leaders and adult education facilitators in Chafe Local Government Area, the study examines drivers of proliferation, its social and educational impacts, and possible interventions that align with human-centred approaches advocated by the 5th Industrial Revolution. Findings indicate that porousborders, weak governance, political manipulation, and youth unemployment are core drivers. The study documents how insecurity disrupts adult learning centres, reduces participation in literacy and vocational programmes, and undermines trust needed for effective peacebuilding. Policy recommendations include community-based disarmament education, integrated peace and digital literacy in adult education curricula, targeted youth livelihood programmes, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination to restore human security and learning continuity.

