By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) said it has recovered no fewer than 30,000 small arms, light weapons, and ammunition in Nigeria since its establishment 23 years ago.
Its National Coordinator, Air-Vice Marshal Haruna Mohammed (retd), North-West zone, disclosed this during a training organised for journalists yesterday in Kaduna.
The training, tagged: Control and Proliferation of Small and Light Weapons, was organised by NCCSALW in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State council.
Mohammed said since the establishment of the Centre, a lot of recoveries of illicit small arms and light weapons and ammunition have been recorded.
He said, “Over 10,000 small arms and light weapons and over 20,000 ammunition of different calibres have so far been recorded.
“I want to categorically mention here that security agencies and in addition, religious and traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and the media played a vital role. We will not relent on our oars.”
Mohammed said the sharing of information and knowledge was indestructible for the promotion of peace in society.
He added that the training was organised to realisation of the critical role of the media in enlightening the public about the activities of the government’s establishment.
“It is also in line with the core function of NCCSALW of the effective education and awareness campaign related to small arms and light weapons.
“This is aimed at capacity building to enhance coverage of the activities of the Centre professionally and ethically.
“It will also serve as a forum or further networking and collaboration between the participants and the Centre,” Mohammed said.
The coordinator said the effects of the proliferation of small and light weapons were too numerous as it is a major catalyst for insecurity not only in Nigeria but globally.
“Proliferation of small arms and light weapons evaluates the upsurge of armed groups, communal clashes, cultism, kidnapping, ethnic and religious violence the world over, and these result in loss of lives and property and displacement of our people.
“It is against this background that the federal government of Nigeria found it necessary as part of efforts to rejig the security architecture to establish NCCSALW to serve as a security mechanism for the prevention and control of proliferation of small arms and light weapons towards peace and security in Nigeria,” Mohammed said.
The training had participants drawn from security agencies and journalists from various media organisations.
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The House of Representatives will hold a security summit to explore new ways of addressing the current security challenges in the country despite the non-implementation of the previous one held two years ago.
The 9th House of Representatives under former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had organised a similar summit on May 26, 2021, and made some far-reaching recommendations.
However, speaking yesterday at the resumption of plenary after the Christmas and New Year holiday, the Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, said that the country had been caught in the vicious grip of insecurity despite numerous measures, as such new approaches should be explored to build a cohesive, peaceful and prosperous nation.
According to him, the conventional approaches to security are no longer sufficient and the National Legislative Security Summit will harness new ideas and solutions from stakeholders to tackle the menace.
“It is time to harness our collective expertise, to break the silos that have hindered our progress, and to chart a new course towards peace and stability.
“This aligns with our constitutional mandate as parliament to enact laws that strengthen our security framework, and allocate resources wisely,” he added.
Abbas charged relevant security committees of the House to engage with the security chiefs on some of the most immediate measures and resources needed to improve security across the country.
The security situation in Nigeria has in the recent past deteriorated.
There has been an upsurge in cases of killings and abductions in virtually all parts of the country.
Over 200 persons were killed by gunmen and properties were destroyed in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Christmas Eve.
Earlier in the year, several persons were kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with some of the victims losing their lives.
Only on Monday, two traditional rulers were killed in Ekiti State.
A coalition of 48 civil society organisations said on Monday that between May 2023 when President Bola Tinubu assumed office and January 2024, at least 2 423 people have been killed in mass atrocities-related incidents while about 1,872 persons have been abducted.
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Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday re-invoked its earlier resolution to summon the service chiefs and heads of security agencies in the country to find out efforts they are making to address the unfortunate situation.
The Senate decided on a motion sponsored by the entire 109 senators and moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
The federal lawmakers had earlier met behind closed doors for about one and a half hours to discuss the disturbing phenomenon.
The Senate in its joint motion, noted with sadness the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and other criminal activities in the nation.
It insisted that the recent killings in the Agatu local government area of Benue State led to the loss of lives, including security personnel and destruction of properties as well as the brutal killings of 11 residents of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Senate equally noted with great concern, the various kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory where victims have been killed after collecting ransom.
The upper chamber said it was also aware of several cases of kidnappings all over the country where huge ransoms had been paid and several of the victims still got killed.
It lamented that the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Ekiti had further aggravated the level of insecurity in the country.
Senate equally noted the unfortunate bomb explosion at the Bodija area of Ibadan Oyo State where no less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels, and religious centres were destroyed.
The Senate said the service chiefs and security heads would explain to the lawmakers, the killing of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau State.
The federal lawmakers therefore invoked its earlier resolutions to invite the security chiefs for an interactive session with the Senate to resolve the insecurity that is plaguing the country.
The Senate thereafter observed a minute silence in honour of the departed.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, said the leadership will meet with President Bola Tinubu after the engagement with the military and security chiefs.
Akpabio said, “After the interactive session with the security chiefs, which we agreed that it should be next week, we would also fix a time to discuss the outcome with Mr President.
“We have a responsibility to collaborate with the executive and contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves, including our children, can sleep with their two eyes closed. Security is everybody’s business, and without security, we cannot have progress.
“We are very determined to make laws and pass resolutions aimed at ensuring rapid progress of the country and the immediate improvement of the Nigerian economy.
“This will not be possible without a secured nation. We will take this up with Mr. President after interaction with security chiefs.”
Meanwhile, the Senate President said the two chambers of the National Assembly have agreed to adjourn plenary till February 6 to enable members to participate in the campaigns leading to the bye-elections in various constituencies across the country on Saturday.
