Nigeria Destroys 16,000 Illicit Weapons to Combat Crime

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken significant steps to curb arms proliferation by destroying 16,000 illicit weapons, as announced by Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, the Director General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). This initiative aims to reduce violent crime across the country, particularly in regions plagued by banditry and insurgency.

Kokumo, who is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, made this disclosure during a visit to the North West zonal office of the Centre. He highlighted that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a major driver of insecurity in Nigeria.

The Centre, established in 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has strengthened its legal framework with a new law signed in June 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Kokumo identified three major sources of illicit weapons in Nigeria, including illegal imports and local production.

The Centre is intensifying efforts to collaborate with relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Customs Service, to monitor and address these challenges.