The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Northeast Zonal Centre, has intensified collaboration with the Nigerian Army to tackle the menace of illicit small arms and light weapons across the country.
Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to Major General A.E. Abubakar, Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force, Northeast Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, the Northeast Zonal Coordinator of NCCSALW, Major General Abubakar Adamu (retd), said the partnership was crucial to mop up small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the zone.
Adamu lamented the negative impact of the proliferation of illicit weapons on peaceful coexistence and socio-economic development in the nation. He pledged the Centre’s continuous collaboration with the Army, particularly in intelligence sharing, which he described as key in preventing the spread of illicit arms.
“One of our responsibilities is to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and to also enlighten the people. We are a multi-agency department with personnel drawn from the police, DSS, serving and retired military officers.
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“We have been empowered to receive all illicit small arms and light weapons recovered by various agencies, and we are responsible for destroying them,” Adamu said.
While commending the Army for its role in safeguarding the country, the NCCSALW coordinator assured that the Centre would strengthen its partnership with the military to make Nigeria safer.
“We are also the only organization empowered to prosecute gun runners and those arrested for dealing in small arms and light weapons.
“What we are doing is to visit major stakeholders, share intelligence and collaborate, because without the armed forces, there is no way we can eradicate the proliferation of illicit weapons,” he added.
Adamu disclosed that the Centre had recently collected and destroyed weapons recovered from Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State.
In his response, Major General Abubakar pledged the Army’s support for the Centre to achieve its mandate. He praised Adamu’s track record as a patriotic and result-oriented officer, assuring continued cooperation in documentation and handover of recovered arms.
He further commended the Centre’s efforts in working with security agencies, traditional rulers, and stakeholders, stressing that such synergy was vital to curbing the spread of illicit weapons.
Punch recalled that on August 27, the Centre also paid a courtesy visit to Brigadier General U.V. Unachukwu, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters in Maiduguri, to strengthen collaboration in the ongoing fight against illicit arms proliferation.
