.By Our Correspondent
As part of efforts to curtail the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Country, the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has sensitized stakeholders on dangers of proliferationit of small arms and light weapons in Kano and Jigawa States.
The sensitization exercise held during the week, was aimed at getting contributions of stakeholders towards achieving the core mandate of the Centre.
While speaking in Kano, the Zonal Coordinator of the Centre, Northwest Zone, Air Vice Marshall Haruna Umar Mohammad disclosed that the sensitization would help the Centre to formulate and implement strategies, plans and policies towards eradicating the presence of small arms and light weapons.
According to him, the Centre was established in May 2021 by the Executive Directive of the past administration which was in line with article 24 of ECOWAS Convention on small arms and light weapons.
“Today, we are sensitizing people on the dangers of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and this is part of our core mandates to ensure that our society is free of illicit weapons.”
“We have taken the crusade to Jigawa and now we are in Kano state on the mission to educate not only the stakeholders, but also the public on the dangers of the proliferation of illicit weapons around us,” AVM Mohammad said.
While in Jigawa, the Zonal Coordinator and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dutse, Hameem Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi where he was informed of the Centre’s activities.
Living no stone unturned, the Centre also visited the Yakubu Gawon NYSC Orientation Camp in Dutse where more than one thousand corps members were sensitized on how to prevent the spread of small arms and light weapons in the society. Similar program was carried out at NYSC Orientation Camp, Karaye Kano.
In his remarks, the Emir of Dutse promised the Centre of a collaboration towards ensuring the implementation of laws regulating the possession of fire arms and how to prevent the spread of small arms and light weapons in the society.
The team from the North West Zonal Office also paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf who delegated the Director General, Special Services Directorate Government House, Kano , Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar(rtd) to receive the team.
The Director assured the team of the full cooperation of the State Government.