The Federal Government on Thursday, destroyed a total of 3,867 illicit firearms that were either seized by security agencies or voluntarily surrendered, in a renewed effort to stem the tide of violent crimes and terrorism across the country.
The arms destruction exercise, which took place at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, was conducted by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
This marks the fourth such operation since the Centre’s establishment in 2021.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Johnson Kokumo, explained that the 3,867 firearms destroyed consisted of various types and calibres, including those captured during operations, recovered from criminals, or surrendered under arms control initiatives.
According to Kokumo, some illicit weapons, such as those intercepted at Onne Port and the NAHCO shed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, are undergoing investigation and legal processes, and will be destroyed in future exercises.
He said, “It is pertinent to state that the National Centre has in its custody some recovered/captured illicit SALW still undergoing tracing as well as investigations and legal processes.
“These include the illicit weapons smuggled into the country and intercepted at Onne Port and NAHCO shed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“These categories of weapons would be destroyed on completion of the proceedings during subsequent routine destruction exercises,” he said.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said controlling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is central to the Federal Government’s counterterrorism and national security strategy.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Governance and Subnational Liaison, Asishana Okauru, the NSA said the availability of illicit SALW continues to fuel violent conflict, terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality across Nigeria and beyond.
“The failure to effectively control illicit arms undermines global peace and development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. For Nigeria, it is imperative that we take deliberate steps to prevent the flow of these weapons into the hands of non-state actors,” Ribadu stated.
He noted that the destruction of seized and surrendered firearms sends a strong message about the government’s resolve to sanitise the security environment, emphasising that the recently signed Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strengthens this commitment.
“This is a clarion call for all Nigerians to take ownership of the nation’s security by cooperating with authorities and providing timely intelligence to help stem the flow of illicit weapons.
“We are determined to reclaim our communities and restore peace and development across the country,” he said.
