The Federal Government has intensified its clampdown on illegal weapons with the destruction of 1,316 illicit firearms in Abuja.
The exercise, carried out on Thursday, August 28, at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, was conducted by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). It marked the fifth weapons destruction exercise since the centre was created in 2021.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the proliferation of arms as a grave threat to Nigeria’s security.
He said, “It has become a major source of vulnerability in our society and stands out as a key driver of violent conflict, crimes and terrorism within and beyond our borders.”
Ribadu reaffirmed government’s commitment to ending the flow of illicit arms, noting that the recently signed Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 had provided the legal framework to strengthen the campaign.
“This event today is a reminder to all Nigerians of our collective responsibility to support the government and, by extension, the security agencies in our fight to defeat criminality, terrorism, banditry and all other forms of behaviours that threaten our national interest,” he said.
The NSA also urged citizens to trust government efforts and assist security agencies with information to help restore peace and stability.
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NCCSALW Director-General, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, explained that the centre had destroyed more than 13,230 illegal and obsolete weapons since its inception.
“With today’s exercise, NCCSALW has successfully destroyed over 13,230 illicit, obsolete and unserviceable weapons in just four years,” Kokumo said.
He stressed that the operation reflected Nigeria’s commitment to regional and international conventions on arms control.
According to him, it was not only about destroying weapons but also about ensuring they never re-enter circulation.
“This aligns with Article 17 of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW and the United Nations Programme of Action on illicit arms.
“Beyond ECOWAS, we are engaging Chad and Cameroon to stem the tide of cross-border arms trafficking. These engagements are already yielding results,” he added.
Kokumo expressed appreciation to the military and security agencies for their support in making the exercise possible.