The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, has reiterated the Corps’ firm stance against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons within the Corps’ scope of duties.
Odumosu stated this when he received the Zonal Director of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons at the Command headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, on a sensitisation visit.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Command Public Relations Officer, Monica Ojobi.
He noted that the porous nature of borders across the country contributes majorly to the illegal spread of small arms and light weapons, expressing confidence that the Corps maintains professionalism in the handling of arms and weapons.
“Arms proliferation fuels crime, vandalism, banditry, kidnapping, robbery and other vices, as a Corps, we are committed to stemming this menace through intelligence, synergy with other sister agencies and professionalism in arms handling”, Odumosu said.
“We do not take accidental discharge lightly and for that reason our officers are thorough. I am happy to tell you that officers of the Command handle arms with professionalism, discipline and accountability, he added.
He maintained that illegal arms in the hands of non-state actors pose a grave threat to national security, peace and socio-economic development, adding that the FCT Command would continue to train and retrain its personnel on arms handling, human rights and best practices in line with the vision of the Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
Odumosu, who lauded the Zonal Director for the sensitisation visit, assured that the Corps was thorough in its operations and willing to partner with the centre, especially in intelligence gathering.
“The peace of our Country depends solely on our ability to carry out our duties with utmost dedication and discipline by ensuring that our borders are manned appropriately, checkmating illicit arms manufacturing and trans – border shipments”.
He stressed the need for sustained synergy among security agencies, strict monitoring of border communities and decisive action against illegal arms manufacturers to stem the menace.
In his speech, the Zonal Director, North Central, Abdul Adamu Enenche, said the visit was a routine one to sensitive arms-bearing agencies, including religious bodies and traditional institutions, on the need to control the spread of small arms and light weapons.
Enenche identified some major areas responsible for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons to include porous borders, international maritime borders, transhipment through illegal jetties and local manufacturers.
He explained that the visit was to seek collaboration with the NSCDC, being an arms-bearing agency, to ensure that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons was controlled, as well as ensure that all arms and weapons recovered from unauthorised people were sent to the centre for proper custody after preliminary investigation.
The Zonal Director, who lauded Commandant Odumosu’s dedication to the security of lives and property and the successes he had recorded as the FCT Commandant, presented an Award of Excellence to the Commandant.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV