The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said controlling illicit arms proliferation would lead to the total defeat of terrorists in the country.
He called for concerted action amongst the government, international community and all well-meaning Civil Society Organisations in the country.
Ribadu spoke at the public destruction of 3,867 illicitly acquired decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons, at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, on Thursday.
The exercise, conducted by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), was the fourth destruction exercise held by the centre since its establishment in 2021.
The NSA represented by the Special Adviser on Governance and Subnational Liaison, Mr. Asishana Okauru, said proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) constitutes a huge threat to our national security, which has become a key driver of violent conflict, crimes and terrorism within and beyond our borders.
According to the NSA, the failure of the global community to effectively control the availability of illicit SALW has continued to undermine global peace and significantly hinder development especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We recognise the complexity of the challenges of controlling the proliferation of SALW in Nigeria and the requirement for concerted action amongst the government, international community and all well-meaning Civil Society Organisations.
“Nonetheless, we are resolved to galvanise our strengths and unity as a nation to confront these monstrous challenges and I am optimistic that we shall surmount them,” he said.
Ribadu noted that the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in 2021 was a historic step towards addressing the problem
of small arms proliferation through an institutional platform that would structurally address all underlying contributors to national security threat within international protocols.
He said the signing of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to putting end to ellucit arms in the country.
He said, “The public destruction of illicitly acquired decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons 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 and socio-economic wellbeing.
“It is a clarion call to reclaim our security space and restore our nation to the path of peace, security and development. We, as patriotic citizens must stand up to be counted at this time by providing information to the security agencies and we must trust the Government to bring the state’s authority to bear in ensuring that all Nigerians, wherever they may reside, enjoy the peace and security that they truly deserve.
“The Federal Government is also taking firm steps through relevant Ministries and Government Agencies to tighten domestic controls to prevent and reduce the flow of SALW into illegal hands who are working to undermine our security.”
The NSA commended the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for this milestone achievement within the shortrime of its establishment.
“I am sure that given the time and the necessary support, the National Centre will successfully deliver on its mandate of significantly eradicating illicit SALW from our society,” Ribadu said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, said arms destruction exercise was the fourth in a series of what had now become routine in the centre’s illicit weapons reduction strategy.
“Today, a total of quantity 3,867 different types and calibres of SALW would be destroyed by initial burning process and subsequently, smelting of the remnant metal parts.
“It is pertinent to state that the National Centre has in its custody some recovered/captured illicit SALW still undergoing tracing as well as investigations and legal processes.
“These include the illicit weapons smuggled into the Country and intercepted at Onne Port and NAHCO shed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“These categories of weapons would be destroyed on completion of the proceedings during subsequent routine destruction exercises,” he said.
Kokumo said the exercise highlights the dangers of excess, poorly secured, and illegal weapons as well as the importance of small arms destruction as a vital measure to reduce the proliferation and misuse of firearms.
According to him, it also underscores the Nigerian Government’s commitment to transparent documentation and destruction of decommissioned, unserviceable, captured, surrendered and recovered illicit firearms.
This, he said, is in line with the provisions of Article 17 of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW and the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW.
The NCCSALW boss said the centre would continue to push in the direction with a view to generating ingenious strategies to reduce, if not completely eradicate, the availability of illicit arms in the society.
He expressed appreciation to the Service Chiefs and heads of other arms-bearing security and intelligence services for releasing the recovered weapons for the destruction exercises.
“I am rest assured of your continued support to the Centre as we work together towards our shared vision of an illicit arms-free society,” he added.
In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its aircraft attached to Operation Hadin Kai on Thursday destroyed terrorists’ gun trucks and killed several fighters in Borno State.
A statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the airstrikes were carried out following terrorists’ attack on a military location in Buratai town in Borno State.
According to the statement, the terrorists in the early hours of Thursday, following a failed attack, were fleeing in four gun trucks.
“Acting on credible intelligence, NAF surveillance assets tracked insurgents attempting to flee with four gun trucks. As the terrorists regrouped along an active route, NAF air assets swooped in, engaging the convoy with devastating accuracy, neutralising several fighters and destroying two gun trucks loaded with supplies,”
The statement said further details on the operation will be communicated as they become available.
In another statement, the spokesman of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, said, Troops of the Nigerian military under the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai have killed three prominent Boko Haram / ISWAP commanders in Borno State.
Amir Abu Ali, Amir Ibunu and Amir Abu Wuldume were killed during a fierce gun battle in Mallam Fatori in Abadam local government area and Buratai in Biu local government area.
The killing of the Commanders was announced by the Nigerian military shortly after the troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled a terrorist attack on a military location in Buratai (Biu) and Mallam Fatori (Abadam) in Borno State.
The statement said, following the encounter, troops found lifeless bodies of the terrorists and recovered ‘assorted arms and ammunition.
He added that the exploration of the general area is ongoing.
The spokesman added that the troops, in a coordinated operation with the Air component of the theatre, have killed several Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Buratai in Biu local government area and in Mallam Fatori, in Abadam local government area of state.
Captain Reuben Kovangiya said, in the foiled attack on Buratai, the terrorists attempted to deceitfully infiltrate troops’ location from all approaches, but were engaged by the gallant troops with heavy gunfire, while the Air component provided close Air support to the gallant troops.
In the Mallam Fatori foiled attack, Captain Kovangiya said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior gunfire when they attempted to attack troops’ location from different fronts which resulted in the killing of the several number of the terrorists.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, has stated that the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria cannot be resolved by kinetic efforts alone, but needs various approaches.
Gen Musa stated this while speaking at the official launch of the Presidential Community Engagement Peace Initiative and North Central Peace Summit in Jos, organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central).
“If people are happy and well protected, things will go better. If they’re not, there will be a crisis. These are the things we need to understand and appreciate,” he said.
He also argued that, first, there must be peace, equity, fairness and justice adding that without these, “we cannot have proper development.”
The CDS also advocated for stronger border control including the fencing of Nigeria’s border to curb illegal entry and cross border crime and further advised political class to take the right decisions and give the proper direction which the armed forces are ready to carry out.
In the same vein, Plateau State governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ephraim Usman, said the initiative aims to empower communities to take the lead in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, recognising that sustainable peace must be locally owned and locally driven.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr (Mrs) Abiodun Essiet said the event was organised as part of efforts to tackle insecurity which has bedevilled the region.
In Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday said about 1,470 security corps agents have been trained by the military to tackle security challenges in the state.
He noted that his administration has reorganised and restructured the Edo State Security Corps to embrace professionalism and collaborate with security agencies to fight criminality in the state.
The governor made this known at the passing out parade of the newly reorganized Edo State Security Corps members held at the Edo State National Orientation Camp (NYSC) in Okada, Ovia North East local government area.
Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Governor Okpebholo said the activities of the former Corps were politicised and lacked professionalism, hence the decision to reorganise and restructure the Corps.
“Regrettably, activities of the former Corps were politicized, and it lacked professionalism. Hence, I decided to reorganise and restructure the Corps to meet set objectives,” he said.
The governor noted that 1,472 members of the Edo State Security Corps have completed their two-week rigorous training at the orientation camp.
He thanked the Nigerian Army for training the Corps, demonstrating the government’s seriousness in combating criminality and making the state safe for all.
According to the governor, security is one of the key elements of his administration’s five-point agenda.
He noted that the State Government established the Edo State Security Corps, backed by the Edo State Security Corps Governance Law 2024, to assist the police in intelligence gathering and low-level operations to combat crime.
The governor expressed his administration’s concern over security challenges in the state, noting that existing security agencies were over-stretched. He said the Edo State Security Corps was established to provide support to the police and other sister security agencies.
The Chairman of the reorganizing committee of Edo State Security Corps, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd), represented by Major Gen. Victor Ebhaleme (rtd) said the organisation and training of the Corps is to ensure they are more effective and efficient in the performance of their duties.
In another development, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike on Thursday expressed optimism that with the recent policies and measures being put in place by President Bola Tinubu, bandits and terrorists will no longer find incubation points and free territories to operate.
The minister made the remark at the Obafemi Awolowo university, Ile-Ife, Osun State while delivering this year’s Obafemi Awolowo University lecture titled: “Nigeria of Our Dreams.”
Wike said, “Put simply, the era of banditry and terrorism would soon come to an end. These and many other policies and measures are being put together by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition our country on the path of progress and development.”
LEADERSHIP recalls that President Tinubu recently approved the appointment of forest guards to address the challenge of bandits and terrorists said to be incubating in forests.
He added that the security situation was being addressed through proper funding, training and retraining of the army and other security forces.
He however charged Nigerians to support the administration of President Tinubu, adding that no leader, no matter how endowed, equipped and selfless, can truly succeed without the support and cooperation of the citizenry.
Wike further called on Nigerians to wake up from years of cynicism, indifference and hopelessness to embrace the new era of renewed hope led by President Tinubu.
He noted that the overwhelming cry of over-centralisation of power and resources at the national level and the attendant abuse of the doctrine of federalism is being systematically addressed through the creation of zonal/regional commissions empowered to devolve development to their respective zones and regions for power to truly return to the people.
The Ooni Of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi described Wike as an upright and fearless politician who says things as they are no matter whose ox is gored.
Oba Ogunwusi said this formed his reason for the deep respect he has for the FCT minister.
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