Centre retrieves 12, 400 small arms, and weapons from theatres of operations
By Njadvara MUSA
The National Coordinator for the Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, (NCSALW), Maj-Gen. Abba Dikko (rtd) has said that 12, 400 different calibres of weapons have been retrieved from the theatres of operations in the country.
Unveiling the arms retrievals, yesterday (Thursday), in Maiduguri, Borno state, he disclosed: “This is my first working visit to Borno state to brief Governor Babagana Zulum on the objectives of the Centre.”
He said that the Centre was to strengthen synergy and end the proliferation of small arms in the various communities in the country.
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“We’re working closely with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to remove illicit weapons from circulation,” he said, adding that the retrieval exercise was to break supply chains to ensure that violence is reduced to the barest level.
His words: “We have retrieved not less than 10,000 small arms, so far from the Police and other theatres of war.
He noted that from the police alone, about 4, 000 arms and weapons were recovered from other theatres, bringing a total of about 6, 000.
On whether there were arrests, he said: “The Centre will commence profiling the recovered arms and equally begins the litigation process of gun runners and others who engaged in the illicit act.
Besides, he added that the Centre would identify and mainstream those with skills in fabricating local weapons for the military-industrial complex.
This, he noted, will make Nigeria to be self-reliant in the manufacture of weapons for troops on the frontlines of Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region in the Northeast.
