Nigeria destroys over 2,800 illegal weapons to fight crime

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), part of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has destroyed 2,809 illegal and unusable weapons. These weapons were collected by security and law enforcement agencies across Nigeria.

The destruction took place on Thursday at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja. This action is part of the federal government's plan to fight the spread of illegal weapons that cause insecurity in Nigeria, according to NTA news.

At the event, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was represented by Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. He said the spread of illegal arms is a big reason for Nigeria's security problems.

Mr Ribadu pointed out that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and other violent crimes are getting worse because illegal firearms are so easy to find. He mentioned that each weapon taken by the armed forces and police, and every weapon permanently destroyed, is a threat removed from the community.

He also said that this destruction sends a strong message to those involved in making, selling, and using illegal guns. It shows that recovered weapons will be destroyed permanently to stop them from going back to criminal groups.

Johnson Kokumo, the Director-General of the centre, also spoke. He highlighted that destroying these weapons is a key step in stopping them from being used in crime. He noted that every weapon properly recovered and destroyed means one less threat to the lives and safety of Nigerians.

Mr Kokumo shared that since its start in 2021, the centre has recovered and destroyed around 19,000 illegal weapons. This is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the number of illegal arms in the country.

The centre works with the military, police, and other security agencies to control, recover, and destroy illegal small arms and light weapons. They aim to tackle the growing danger from the spread of illegal firearms.