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Arms destruction: Over 2,800 illegal firearms destroyed in Abuja
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Security push: FG intensifies fight against terrorism and violent crime
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Legal backing: 2024 arms control law strengthens enforcement framework
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has destroyed over 2,800 illicit firearms in Abuja as part of efforts to curb insecurity across the country.
The exercise, described as the fifth of its kind, underscores the Federal Government’s renewed push to combat violent crimes and terrorism driven by the proliferation of illegal weapons.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the spread of small arms remains a major threat to national security. Represented by Maj.-Gen. Hillary Mabeokwu, he stated, “The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons is a major threat to national security and a key driver of violent crimes, terrorism, and insecurity.”
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Ribadu noted that the centre, established in 2021, provides a coordinated framework to tackle arms proliferation in line with international protocols, including the ECOWAS Convention.
He added that the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024, signed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has strengthened the legal basis for enforcement. “This Act provides the legal foundation for the centre to discharge its mandate more robustly and effectively,” he said.
Director-General of the centre, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, said the exercise demonstrates commitment to promoting peace and security.
“This exercise underscores our adherence to international standards, including the ECOWAS Convention and the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms,” he said.
Kokumo disclosed that more than 16,000 illicit, obsolete, and decommissioned weapons have been destroyed since the centre’s establishment, with the latest batch recovered from police commands, the military, and other security agencies nationwide.
He also urged citizens to support security agencies with timely information, stressing that public cooperation is vital to achieving lasting peace and security.
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