NSCDC HANDS OVER RECOVERED GUNS & AMMUNITION TO CENTRE FOR CONTROL OF SMALL ARMS & LIGHT WEAPONS
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
The National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons wants security agencies to step up the fight against proliferation of arms among non-state actors to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.
The Director of Operations in the Centre, Mr. Chris Owolabi, made the call in Owerri while receiving the thirty-two rifle guns and other ammunition recovered by the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense in Owerri.
Mr. Owolabi said the ongoing efforts to mop up arms from unauthorized persons across the federation were already yielding positive results and pledged the commitment of the Office of the National Security Adviser, which supervises the Center, to bring insecurity to the barest.
“The insecurity we are facing now is caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons and that is why the Federal Government set up the Center to continue the work of the Presidential Committee where they stopped from, that is why you see us trying to mop up arms from the society.
“The Civil Defense handing over to us now you can see they are working hard so it is to commend their effort, commend the efforts of our law enforcement agencies so far and encourage them to keep doing the work,” he said.
The Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Imo State, Mr. Micheal Ogar, who handed over the recovered arms to the Director of Operations National Center for the Control of small arms and light weapons, warned against unauthorized possession of firearms.
He noted that the Command would stop at nothing to rid the state of criminal elements.
“Involving in criminality and usage of illegal arms shall not be allowed in Imo State and all security agencies are on ground to track and arrest those who are involved in this kind of nefarious activities.
“And we want the public to continue to give us vital information so that we will be able to recover more of this,” the NSCDC Commandant remarked.
NSCDC had one week ago paraded a twenty-seven year old man, Chetachi Ibe who hailed from Ebonyi State, for his alleged involvement in the arms, which were recovered from a hideout in Owerri, Imo State.