As the Federal Government battles to checkmate festering insecurity in the country, the South West coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Mr Sola Ben Akinlade, hinted on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, that 14,000 illicit weapons have been handed over to the centre by the Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police Force.
He also disclosed that NCCSALW has commenced the profiling of blacksmiths involved in the production of locally fabricated rifles, shotguns, and other dangerous weapons.
Akinlade, who explained that the illicit weapons were recovered from clearance operations across the nation as part of the efforts to rid society of dangerous firearms, declared that the centre is leveraging synergy with all security agencies to discharge its duties.
Speaking during a press briefing, the NCCSALW boss, who is a retired director of the Department of State Security (DSS), in charge of internal security, maintained that no effort will be spared by the centre to mop up weapons already in the hands of hoodlums causing security breaches in Nigeria.
He stated: “NCCSALW was established under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) by the Federal Government in 2021. The centre is saddled with the responsibility of preventing and controlling the proliferation of small and light weapons in collaboration with stakeholders towards strengthening peace and security in Nigeria.
“For instance, the Nigerian Army has handed over about 10,000 weapons from various clearance operations across the nation to the centre, which have been destroyed through melting. Likewise, 4,000 illicit weapons were received from the Nigeria Police and destroyed by the centre.
“The weapons were those compiled from various state commands after the completion of their court cases. Efforts are underway to receive recovered weapons from the Nigerian Air Force, while the Nigerian Navy and Operation Delta Safe are already compiling seized illicit weapons for onward transmission to the centre for destruction, “Akinlade posited.
Also speaking on the increase in the spate of violent crimes in the zone, especially the recent kidnapping and killing of traditional rulers in the South West zone, the NCCSALW boss said: “We are collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the war against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. This and many more are the reasons why the media is being urged to support the centre in its advocacy and sensitization drive among members of the public on the bane of illicit possession of firearms.
Akinlade added: “The centre is profiling all blacksmiths who are engaging in the fabrication of these illicit weapons with a view to persuading them to desist from the criminal activities. The locally fabricated weapons are believed to be easier to acquire than the imported ones, which are mostly costly and not easily procured by criminals.”
“The South West zonal office is located in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, and has since commenced full operations. Since its inception, it has engaged relevant stakeholders across the zone through sensitization, advocacy programmes, and the sharing of intelligence with security agencies, which led to various operational successes and facilitated the movement and destruction of seized small arms and light weapons, “he stressed.