Centre Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support Against Arms Proliferation

National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), North East Zonal Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), has partnered with traditional rulers in the region to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the zone.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi on Sunday, Maj-Gen Abubakar Adamu (rtd), the centre’s North East zonal coordinator, said the partnership was imperative due to the crucial roles the traditional rulers played in shaping the society.

He emphasised that issues of insecurity would be a thing of the past with traditional rulers’ involvement in fighting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW).

While explaining that NCCSALW under the office of NSA was established in 2021 as the institution framework for the regulation and control of small arms and light weapons in the country, Adamu said the proliferation of these small arms and light weapons paved the way for increase in banditry, kidnapping, cultism, political thuggery and all sorts of insecurity in the country.

“Please, sir, we want you to help us investigate these matters and fight the proliferation of illicit weapons.

“We want your total involvement in advocating and campaigning against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and we believe that with your collaboration with us in this regard, issues of insecurity will be reduced to the barest minimum.

“I believe without this, there will be no banditry, violence, cultism, political thuggery, Boko Haram, ISWAP and others.

“As part of the efforts of the federal government to curtail and fight the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, that is why the NCCSALW was created.

“It is part of the responsibility of this NCCSALW to advocate for and sensitise communities and key stakeholders in the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons,” he said.

Responding, the Shehu of Borno promised to mobilise all the traditional rulers to work hand in hand with the centre to tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the state.

He also appreciated Maj-Gen Abubakar Adamu (Rtd) for collaborating with the traditional rulers to fight the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the state.