FG destroys 13,000 Illegal firearms in four-year crackdown

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), says it has destroyed more than 13,000 illicit, unserviceable, and obsolete firearms over the past four years.

This it says it is in a concerted effort to combat the proliferation of small arms across Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Centre, Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Kokumo, said this on Thursday during the fifth national arms destruction exercise held at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.

At the event, 1,316 assorted weapons were destroyed, bringing the cumulative number of firearms decommissioned since 2021 to over 13,230.

Kokumo said, “Weapon destruction has now become a routine activity by the centre. Its role in promoting an arms-free society and strengthening national security cannot be overemphasised.”

According to him  the exercise is more than symbolic, describing it as a concrete demonstration of transparency and accountability, ensuring that seized weapons never return to circulation.

“Today’s destruction includes unserviceable and captured illicit small arms and light weapons recovered through military and security operations. These arms were handed over by the Armed Forces, police, and other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Kokumo also noted that the exercise aligns with Nigeria’s international obligations, particularly under Article 17 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and the United Nations Programme of Action on Illicit Arms.

“This is not just a national priority; it’s a commitment to global arms control frameworks,” he said.

He further revealed ongoing collaborations with neighboring countries like Chad and Cameroon to curb cross-border arms trafficking, adding that these regional engagements are already producing results.

The weapons destroyed included arms recovered during counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations, obsolete weapons surrendered by security agencies and illicit firearms seized during law enforcement efforts

Kokumo reiterated the NCCSALW’s commitment to sustaining routine destruction exercises as part of broader efforts to enhance national security and prevent the re-circulation of illegal weapons.