Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), addressed a concerning issue regarding the involvement of some police officers and soldiers in the illicit sale of arms.
Gatekeepers News reports that during an arms destruction event organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Ribadu highlighted that certain security personnel are complicit in supplying weapons to criminals.
The event was held at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, where the NSA criticised those security members who assist in the transfer of arms to terrorists and other non-state actors.
He noted that many of the illicit weapons used in crimes across the nation were originally government property.
Ribadu emphasised that the destruction of these recovered and outdated arms underscores the federal government’s dedication to ensuring a secure future for all Nigerians.
“We have to find a way of putting a stop to this. We must, if we want to recover our country and live in peace and stability,” NAN quoted the NSA as saying.
“The worst human being is a policeman or a soldier who will take an arm from his own formations and sell it or hide it out for the bad people to come and kill his own colleagues.
“We must fight these people, but also there are merchants of death and evil from outside the world.
“The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons remains a major threat to our national security, exacerbating issues such as insurgency, banditry, and other violent crimes.”
He added that the federal government will continue to provide support to the NCCSALW toward ensuring the safety of every Nigerian.
Johnson Kokomo, the Director-General of NCCSALW, said the proliferation of small arms poses a great challenge to the fight against insecurity in the country.
Kokomo said the exercise would witness the destruction of over 2,400 illicit weapons, comprising a mix of unserviceable, decommissioned, and recovered arms.
“These weapons have been mopped up by the military, police, and other security agencies across the country,” he said.
“By permanently removing these arms from circulation, we reduce the risk they pose to our communities and send a clear message that Nigeria will not tolerate the illegal trafficking and possession of small arms and light weapons.”
