By Our Correspondent
The Coordinator, Northwest Zonal Office, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, AVM, Haruna Muhammed Rtd, has urged citizens in possession of arms to surrender in the interest of peace and security.
AVM Muhammed made the appeal during a visit to Sokoto and Kebbi States to interact with heads of security agencies at their respective Commands.
The Coordinator who was in the two States with his team was there to acknowledge their contributions towards the attainment of the vision, mission of the Centre and to call for sustained synergy to strengthen collaborations in the interest of national security.
According to the Zonal Coordinator, AVM, Haruna Muhammed Rtd, Sokoto State was first to showcase the success of the National Centre with the handing over of over 1000 small arms and light weapons, and over 4000 ammunition of different calibers in June 2022, attributing the achievement to the collective efforts of the security operatives in the state through kinetic and none kinetic approaches.
The Zonal Coordinator and his team also took sensitisation campaign to the NYSC Orientation Camp, Wamakko on the need for corps members not to engage in the use of small arms and light weapons.
The two- day working visit was concluded by sensitisation on the core functions and values of the Centre with participants drawn from traditional institutions, religious bodies, security agencies, CSO’s, market women, some professional organizations, youth corps members, students, NURTW, Traders Associations and Commercial Motorcycles/ tricycles Associations among others.
AVM Haruna urged participants to take the message to their homes, places of worship, business points and other meeting places for peace and development of the State and Nation.
While in Kebbi, the team stressed on the need for residents to combat the influx of small arms and light weapons in the country and also expose people commiting various criminal offenses in the society.
“For years, the nation has grappled with escalating incidents of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and cultism, among other security challenges,” the Zonal Coordinator disclosed.
“A significant contributor to the menace, is the proliferation of small arms and light weapons particularly in the Northern part of the country. To combat this issue, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons was established. The Centre’s coordinating unit in the North West Zone, visited Kebbi State, organized lectures and engagements with stakeholders, highlighting notable achievements such as the taking over of large number of recovered small arms across the country by the Centre among others.”
During the engagements in Kebbi, speakers from various security outfits, civil society organizations, the academia and the general public emphasized the importance of the Centre’s mission and urged citizens in possession of arms to surrender them in order to promote peace and security in the State and the Country at large.
The delegation also visited the Emir of Gwandu at his Palace for more engagement and royal blessing.