Promotion of illicit arms-free society: National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons destroys over 3,000 illegal arms
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) said it has mopped up and destroyed over 3,000 illegal weapons and firearms in the country as the country prepares for 2023 general elections.
The Director of Internal Security and the Zonal Coordinator, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, South West Zone, Mr. Sola Akinlade disclosed this at a press conference in Abeokuta saying this is to prevent and control the proliferation of arms in the system.
Mr. Akinlade who explained that the centre is domiciled in the Presidency under the National Security Adviser added that the press conference was imperative to encourage the media in collaborating and to join force with the centre in the fight against the crime.
“The centre’s establishment has since commenced operations by mopping up illicit arms through security agencies especially in the handing over of recovered weapons by the military from ongoing military operations in the North West, North Central and North East to mention just a few”, Akinlade disclosed.
Akinlade called for effective collaboration with the media practitioners towards the eradication of illicit arms currently in wrong hands of political thugs, armed bandits and other unpatriotic and unlicensed citizens, not excluding students in various academic institutions.
He revealed that the centre has commenced sensitization and advocacy visit to critical stakeholders including the press, civil society organisations, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, international organisations and transport union workers mong others.
The South West Zonal Coordinator also called on the general public to be on alert as some associations have been parading themselves in the public to be controlling arms and have put their members on major roads searching vehicles and confronting individuals, as such activities are illegal and should be reported to law enforcement agencies.
Akinlade emphasized the need for all to be vigilant as political campaigns and rallies have commenced, adding that the use of various forms of small arms and light weapons cannot be ruled out. In this regard, movement of political thugs and other criminals should be under watch and close monitoring with a view to reporting groups or individuals in possession of illicit arms.
His words, “The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) was established by, His Excellency Muhamadu Buhari GCFR the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Nigeria in 2021, to promote illicit arms-free society.
“The Mission is to prevent and control the proliferation of (Small Arms and Light Weapons) SALW in collaboration with stakeholders towards strengthening peace and security in Nigeria.
Akinlade said “the objectives of the Centre are:
• To Institutionalise SALW control at all levels of the polity.
• To mainstream illicit SALW eradication effort in our national discourse.
• To domesticate illicit SALW in order to engender whole of national approach.
• To facilitate wider stakeholder participation in the eradication of illicit SALW including key roles for civil society Organisations.
• To ensure due compliance with the ECOWAS and UN conventions and protocols on the eradication of illicit SALW.
He said the Centre is liaising with ECOWAS, AFRICAN UNION and UNITED NATIONS in all matters relating to the eradication of the proliferation of SALW in general at the regional, continental and global levels, as a member of the three bodies.
He revealed that the Centre’s establishment has since commenced operations by mopping up illicit arms through Security Agencies especially in the handing over of recovered weapons by the military from ongoing military operations in the North West, North Central and North East to mention just a few.
“In some months past, the NCCSALW have commenced sensitization and Advocacy with Critical Stakeholders including the Press, Civil Society Organization, Security Agencies, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, International Organizations, Transport Union Workers just to mention but a few.
He then called on the media to join the Centre in its advocacy and sensitization to get across the length and breadth of Nigeria adding that the “Centre is expecting the media practitioners towards eradication of illicit arms currently in wrong hands of political thugs, armed bandits and other unpatriotic citizens not excluding students in various academic institutions.
“The Centre wants to use the opportunity to also alert the public of some associations parading themselves to be controlling arms as they have put their members on major roads searching vehicles and confronting individuals as such activities are illegal and should be reported to law enforcement agencies, revealing that the group is not known to the Federal Government.
He “recalled that the President in his address on Lake Chad Basin on 29th November 2022 canvassed for border Security around borders in Lake Chad Basin and other Countries bothering Nigeria during the 16th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission held in Abuja.
“The President emphasized on the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by Border Control Agencies and other Security Services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region.
Akinlade then said that “yhe need for all to be vigilant as political campaigns and rallies have commenced. The use of various forms of Small Arms and Light Weapons cannot be ruled out. In this regard, movement of political thugs and other criminals should be under watch and close monitoring with a view to reporting group or individuals in possession of illicit arms.
