The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has approached the Oyo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists for collaboration on war against proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
In a press release signed and made available to Journalists in Ibadan today by the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the NCCSALW, Mr. Ben Sola Akinlade, a Former Director, Internal Security of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Center was established under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2021.
Speaking also with Journalists at the NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the SW Coordinator said, the center is saddled with the responsibility to prevent and control the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria and needed the collaboration of all stakeholders towards strengthening peace and security in Nigeria.
Explaining the structure of the center further, he added, “the Centre’s staff are drawn from personnel of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and other Security Agencies.
“The Centre has six geo-political offices in the six Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria namely; South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central, North- West and North-East. Each Zonal Office is headed by a Zonal Coordinator.
“The NCCSALW is liaising with ECOWAS, African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) in all matters relating to the eradication of the proliferation of SALW in general at the regional, continental and global levels, as a member of the three bodies.
“The South-West Zonal Office of the Center in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State has since its inception engaged relevant stakeholders across the zone through sensitization, advocacy programmes, sharing of Intelligence with Security Agencies which led to various operational successes, facilitated the movement and destruction of seized Small Arms and Light Weapons.
“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, over 4000 illicit weapons were received from the Nigeria Police and destroyed by the Centre.
“The weapons were those compiled from various State Commands after completion of their court cases. Efforts are underway to receive recovered weapons from the Nigerian Air Force while the Nigerian Navy and the OPERATION DELTA SAFE are already compiling seized illicit weapons for onward transmission to the National Centre for destruction.
Meanwhile, the Centre has warned the local manufacturers (blacksmiths) of illicit weapons to desist from their criminal activities.
“The locally fabricated weapons are believed to be easily acquired than the imported ones which are more costly and not easily procured by the criminals,” he added
In the release, Akinlade stated further on the necessity of the collaboration between the center and other relevant organizations, especially the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He said “the increase in the spate of violence crimes in the Zone, especially the recent kidnapping and killing of traditional rulers in Ekiti State necessitates more collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the war against 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 of the members of the public on the bane of illicit possession of firearms in our society.”
NCCSALW also raised alarm on the increased activities of some organisations its described as unauthorized and unscrupulous parading themselves as the focal organizations for the control of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.
“They have gone far to the extent of creating false impression of legitimacy and authority, and deceitfully collecting money from unsuspecting members of the public seeking employment from them.
“While soliciting full cooperation of the media to prevent the projection of these unlawful organizations, members of the public are also enjoined to be weary of the existence of the so-called dubious outfits.
“The NCCSALW remains the only government-sanctioned body charged with the responsibility to checkmate the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Country,” Akinlade clarified
The Coordinator reaffirmed the readiness of South-West Zonal Office the Center to sustain collaboration and synergize with other stakeholders and action Security Agencies in identifying, profiling, arrest and prosecute arms traffickers as well as those with illicit possession of arms and ammunition within the Zone.
“With cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, violent crimes, if not totally eradicated, could be reduced to the bearest minimum,” Akinlade assured
