3,000 small arms, light weapons destroyed in four months

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) says over 3,000 small arms and light weapons were destroyed between November 2022 and February 2023.

The North Central Coordinator of the Centre, Major General Hamza Bature (rtd.), made this known on Tuesday at a press briefing in Minna, the zonal headquarters of the centre.

The centre raised an alarm over the proliferation of illegal private security outs allegedly parading themselves as authorised small arms and light weapons control organisations, especially in the North Central.

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According to Bature, recent findings by the centre showed that such organisations deceive unsuspecting citizens in Kogi state by asking them for jobs to assist in mopping up small arms and light weapons.

He noted that the NCCSALW is the only recognised government body with the mandate to get rid of such arms and weapons in the country.

The coordinator said the activities of the illegal security outfits are complicating the efforts in ensuring Nigeria becomes an illicit small arms-free nation.

“Unauthorised outfits have sprung up, deceitfully presenting themselves as the focal organisations for the control of illicit small arms and light weapons, creating false impressions of legitimacy and authority. These unauthorised bodies risk exacerbating the security issues,” Bature said.

The NCCSALW coordinator said through collaboration with security agencies, some manufacturers of such arms were arrested.