Over 17,000 firearms recovered across Nigeria since 2015 have been destroyed by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) as part of efforts to curb insecurity and prevent the proliferation of illicit weapons and small arms.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the North-East Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Adamu (rtd.), during a courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. S. S. Diwa, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abubakar Adamu said the destruction of the weapons was part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to remove illicit firearms from circulation and strengthen national security.
He explained that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) had continued to pose a major threat to peace and security, particularly in areas affected by armed violence, banditry, insurgency and other criminal activities.
According to him, the NCCSALW, working with relevant security agencies, had intensified efforts to recover illegal weapons and ensure that arms seized from criminal elements did not find their way back into circulation.
He said the destruction of the firearms demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling the illegal arms trade and reducing the availability of weapons used to perpetrate violent crimes.
The Zonal Director also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among security agencies and other stakeholders in addressing the security challenges confronting the country.
He called for continued cooperation and information-sharing among security agencies to enhance the recovery of illicit weapons and strengthen efforts to safeguard communities.
The NCCSALW, established under the Office of the National Security Adviser, is responsible for coordinating efforts to control the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
It could be recalled that the Zonal Director had earlier disclosed that over 22,000 illegal firearms had been recovered by the Centre within the period under review.
In his response, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Borno, appreciated the visit and assured the Zonal Director of his full support and cooperation towards the effective implementation of the NCCSALW mandate.
The courtesy visit provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the Centre and key Nigerian Army formations in the North-East, particularly in the areas of information and intelligence-sharing, arms recovery and SALW control.
The engagement also reaffirmed the shared commitment of the NCCSALW and its security partners to preventing the proliferation and misuse of illicit SALW and promoting peace and security in the region.
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