FG Begins Prosecution of 10 Over Illegal Arms Importation
The Federal Government has announced the commencement of the prosecution of 10 suspects involved in the illegal importation of arms and ammunition into the country. This was revealed by the Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, during a workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Kokumo disclosed that the illicit arms were retrieved from the Nigeria Customs Service on July 1, 2024, after an investigation led to the arrest of the suspects, who are now facing prosecution.
He further stated that the government is set to destroy all seized illegal arms and ammunition by the end of September. This will include obsolete, decommissioned, and unserviceable weapons submitted by various arms-bearing agencies to ensure they are permanently removed from circulation. So far, the centre has recovered 3,383 small arms and light weapons, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition.
In addition to these measures, Kokumo highlighted an upcoming arms destruction exercise, which he described as a critical step in removing illegal arms from circulation.
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The workshop, focused on gender mainstreaming in the prevention of small arms proliferation in Nigeria and West Africa, was attended by a representative of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu, represented by Ibrahim Babani, Director of External Affairs, emphasized the importance of this initiative to Nigeria’s national security. He also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently assented to the bill establishing the NCCSALW, aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal arms and light weapons across the country.
Source: Daily Trust
Illegal arms importation: FG begins prosecution of 10 suspects
