FG destroys over 13,000 illicit weapons destroyed in four years.

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has destroyed over 13,000 illicit and obsolete firearms in the last four years. 

The Centre's Director-General, Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed this on Thursday at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja, during the fifth arms destruction exercise, revealed that 1,316 assorted weapons were destroyed during the fifth arms destruction exercise, bringing the total number of arms eliminated to over 13,230, stating that the exercise aimed to promote an illicit-arms-free society and enhance Nigeria's national security.

According to him, the destroyed weapons include seized arms recovered during counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations, obsolete firearms from the armed forces, and surrendered weapons from law enforcement agencies. 

Kokumo emphasized that the exercise was in line with Nigeria's obligations to regional and international treaties on arms control, including the ECOWAS Convention on SALW and the United Nations Programme of Action on illicit arms.

He also said that the NCCSALW is collaborating with neighbouring countries, including Chad and Cameroon, to tackle cross-border arms trafficking, noting that these engagements are already yielding results, adding that the Centre will continue to sustain the routine destruction of illicit arms to ensure Nigeria's stability and security.

#UTVAfrica#