The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has reiterated that the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOM) remains an illegal security outfit.
It has no affiliation to any official security agency and lacks legal backing to recruit or recover weapons, the NSA declared.
A statement by the head, strategic communications in ONSA Zakari Mijinyawa, cautioned the public against the activities of NATCOM and its affiliates.
He said the group has been involved in extorting unsuspecting members of the public despite orders to dismantle it.
He stated that law enforcement agencies have acted against individuals operating these illegal outfits over the past three years, adding that “some of these individuals have been arrested and are currently being prosecuted”.
“Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to continue arresting and prosecuting individuals and groups who fraudulently present themselves to the public as security forces,” he said.
He recalled that the ONSA in 2021, directed the dismantling of illegal security outfits involved in extorting and harassing Nigerians.
He said, “Despite these efforts, some members of the public, including key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, have fallen victim to the fraudulent activities of NATFORCE, which has recently rebranded as NATCOM, despite clear directives to dismantle all illegal security outfits.
“We remind the public that NATFORCE and NATCOM are not part of Nigeria’s security architecture and have no affiliation with any official security agency.
“These outfits are not backed by federal law, lack the authority to recruit, and are not approved to operate as security organizations.”
He explained that pursuant to Section 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Nigeria established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), which has been under the Office of the National Security Adviser since May 3, 2021.
“The NCCSALW is the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria, coordinating with all relevant stakeholders to implement the UN and ECOWAS Plans of Action on the control of small arms and light weapons. The current National Coordinator of the NCCSALW is DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (td), appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 26, 2024.
“We advise State Governments, international organizations, the private sector, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant about the activities of illegal security outfits operating under any name or form. We encourage close collaboration with the NCCSALW to address concerns around the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”
