Gbenro Adesina
The Nigeria Police Force has declared its determination to curb the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country.
Sequel to this, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakah Adamu, has ordered the Commissioners of Police in the country to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute individuals and groups in possession of prohibited firearms.
According to a press statement, the directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.
The directive is also targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country, which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act.
In a similar vein, the IGP further directed all the commissioners of Police in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi security outfits to enlighten them that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishments and operations.
The IGP, while observing that several civil groups – vigilantes, quasi states and regional security outfits under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, notes that the trend if unchecked, would pose serious threat to national security.
The IGP enjoins citizens to cooperate with the Police in the enforcement of this order as it is aimed at ensuring safety of lives and property in the country.
However, if the police authority is sincere its declaration, various terrorism activities in the country will soon become a thing of the past, as the bandits and other terrorists groups will not no longer be in possession of arms and ammunition used to attack innocent citizens in Nigeria as well as act of destroying communities in the North will stop.
