Ribadu reassures of FG’s commitment to protection of lives, property 

…as Centre destroys 2,819 Illicit small arms in Abuja 

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the federal government and security agencies remain resolutely committed to their constitutional responsibility to secure lives and property in all parts of the country.

Ribadu spoke at the public destruction of illicitly acquired, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons at the General Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja, on Thursday.

At the event, approximately 2,819 illicit decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons were destroyed, bringing the cumulative total to 19,000 destroyed since the Centre’s inception.

Ribadu, represented by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, noted that availability of illegal arms could fuel terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflict, stressing that every weapon recovered and destroyed by the security agencies “represents a threat permanently neutralised.”

The NSA, who was the guest of honour, said his office had worked with President Bola Tinubu’s full support to drive a security strategy premised on intelligence-led precision, inter-agency harmony, the disruption of the financial networks that sustain criminal and terrorist groups, and a renewed, pragmatic engagement with international partners.

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“This approach has yielded results across the country, from degrading terrorist networks to strengthening our border security architecture, and it continues to evolve to meet new and emerging threats.

“The control and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons is an essential, and sometimes underappreciated, pillar of this strategy. It complements our kinetic operations by steadily shrinking the pool of weapons available to those who would sow terror or violence in our communities,” he said.

Ribadu said the destruction exercise reflected institutional commitment, which deserves the recognition of every Nigerian concerned about the security of the nation.

He commended the Director-General of the Centre, Johnson Kokumo, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (retd) and his team for the discipline and consistency they have brought to their task, working closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Customs Service and other sister agencies whose recovery efforts contributed to the exercise.

He reiterated that security was not the responsibility of government and security agencies alone, urging the public, particularly traditional and religious leaders and ordinary citizens, to play their role to guarantee a better society.

The NSA added, “Let me reassure all Nigerians that our security agencies, under the coordination of this office, remain resolute and united in the constitutional duty to protect lives and property across every part of this country.

“Exercises such as this, conducted openly and transparently, are proof of consistent follow-through, not mere ceremony. Government understands that public confidence is earned through sustained, visible action, and we remain committed to earning it, one milestone at a time.”