Adebayo Adenrele
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has pledged to eradicate illicit arms in Nigeria.
The Director General of the agency, Johnson Kokumo (rtd), gave this assurance on Tuesday during a visit to the NCCSALW Southwest Zonal Office in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Speaking with journalists, he emphasized the agency’s ongoing collaboration with other security bodies to address the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition across the country.
Kokumo highlighted the importance of the NCCSALW Act 2024, which provides the legal framework for the agency’s operations, noting that the act empowers the Centre as the sole government agency responsible for controlling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
His words, “The fight against proliferation of illicit arms and ammunitions remains one that we will fight and win. No stone should be left unturned. We are not resting to ensure that we have an illicit arms free society in Nigeria.
“NCCSALW Act 2024 gives the Centre the legal framework with which to work has placed the responsibility for the control of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the Centre.
“The Centre remains the sole agency of government charged with such responsibility. The Centre is doing this in collaboration with other security agencies of government that we rid the Nigerian society of proliferation of illicit arms.
“That is exemplified in what transpired between the Centre and the Nigeria Customs Service where 844 assorted weapons and rifles were intercepted at Onne Port and were handed over to the Centre. The criminal elements who brought them in have been arrested, investigated and currently undergoing prosecution”.
In his remarks, the Zonal Coordinator for the Southwest, Ben Akinlade, commended the Centre’s partnerships with security agencies and stakeholders in Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, and other states.
According to him, the efforts aim to ensure that the region does not become a haven for illicit arms.
He reaffirmed the resolve of the centre to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms, saying a peaceful and secure Nigeria is achievable through sustained collaboration and vigilance.
“We have been able to gather intelligence in respect of our core duties. Part of our work is to conduct security survey and inspection of areas prone to illicit arms and to monitor elections and any other things.
“We have organized media chats, sensitized the communities including faith based organizations, who have carried our message that illicit arms is danger and when you see something, you say something”. He added