Nigerian govt destroys 2,809 illicit arms, vows tougher action against traffickers

The Federal Government on Thursday destroyed 2,809 illicit, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons.

The federal government also reaffirmed its resolve to stem the proliferation of illegal weapons fueling insecurity across the country.

The destruction, carried out by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, in Abuja, brought the cumulative number of weapons destroyed by the centre to about 19,000.

Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, said the exercise demonstrated government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and national security.

Mr Ribadu was represented by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro.

He said terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes were sustained by the widespread availability of illicit arms.

According to him, every weapon recovered and permanently destroyed represents a threat eliminated from society.

“It is important to emphasise that recovering weapons alone is not enough.

“Public, transparent and verifiable destruction guarantees that these recovered weapons can never again be used against any Nigerian,” he said.

Ribadu said his office, with President Bola Tinubu’s support has pursued an intelligence-led national security strategy anchored on stronger inter-agency collaboration, disruption of criminal financing networks, enhanced border security and renewed international partnerships.

He said the strategy, produced measurable gains by degrading terrorist capabilities and strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

The NSA urged Nigerians to support security agencies by reporting illegal possession, manufacture, trafficking and movement of arms.

He also called on traditional and religious leaders to promote peace, dialogue and voluntary disarmament within their communities.

Earlier, the Director-General of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, described the destruction exercise as a deliberate, transparent and irreversible step toward improving national security.

Kokumo said the destroyed weapons were either illicitly acquired or declared obsolete, decommissioned and unserviceable.

He said the proliferation of illicit small arms remained one of the major drivers of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes across Nigeria.

According to him, more than 21,000 illicit, obsolete and unserviceable weapons have been recovered since the establishment of the centre.

He said over 16,000 weapons had been destroyed before Thursday’s exercise, while the latest destruction increased the total number permanently removed from circulation to about 19,000.

Mr Kokumo commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for supporting the recovery and release of weapons for destruction.

He said the exercise sent a strong message to illicit arms traffickers that recovered weapons would be permanently destroyed rather than returned to circulation.
NAN