The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons on Thursday destroyed 1,316 assorted illicit weapons in Abuja.

In his opening remarks during the exercise, the Director-General, NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd), said that it was the fifth in a series of arms destruction by the centre.

Mr Kokumo noted that the exercise was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to regional and international conventions.

According to him, with today’s exercise, NCCSALW had successfully destroyed over 13,230 illicit, obsolete and unserviceable weapons in four years. 

He said, “What we are doing today is not just destroying weapons, but demonstrating our transparency and accountability in ensuring that illicit arms never return to circulation. This aligns with Article 17 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and the United Nations Programme of Action on illicit arms.”

He also highlighted the centre’s partnerships with neighbouring countries and development organisations.

He stated, “Beyond ECOWAS, we are engaging Chad and Cameroon to stem the tide of cross-border arms trafficking. These engagements are already yielding results.’’

The DG expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their cooperation.

“Let me particularly thank the chief of army staff for providing storage facilities for recovered weapons and approving the use of this venue. Without such support, this milestone would not have been possible,” he added.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to stamp out proliferation of illicit SALW.

Mr Ribadu, represented by Kokumo, described the menace as a “monstrous challenge” to national peace and stability.

He said the Federal Government was resolved to take firm measures, not only by strengthening domestic controls but also by working with international partners to curb illicit arms flows.

According to him, there is no gainsaying the fact that the proliferation of SALW constitutes a huge threat to national security.

He said, “It has become a major source of vulnerability in our society and stands out as a key driver of violent conflicts, crimes and terrorism within and beyond our borders. 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.’’

The national security adviser added that the signing of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 by President Bola Tinubu had provided the necessary legal framework for a robust response to the menace.

He added, “We as patriotic citizens must stand up to be counted at this time. Let us trust the government; provide information to our security agencies; and work together to restore our country to the path of peace, security and development.”

(NAN)