The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the proliferation of illegal arms across the country, declaring that sustained efforts to recover and destroy illicit weapons are weakening the operational capacity of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, gave the assurance during the public destruction of 2,819 illicit, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja.
The exercise was carried out by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which disclosed that it has now destroyed about 19,000 weapons since its establishment.
Represented by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Ribadu said every illegal weapon removed from circulation represents a major victory in the fight against insecurity.
“Every weapon recovered and destroyed by the security agencies represents a threat permanently neutralised. We are crushing threats one weapon at a time,” he said.
According to the NSA, illegal firearms remain the lifeline of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements, making their recovery and destruction a key component of the Federal Government’s security strategy.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu had approved a new security framework anchored on intelligence-driven operations, stronger collaboration among security agencies, disruption of criminal financing networks and enhanced cooperation with international partners.
“This approach has yielded results across the country, from degrading terrorist networks to strengthening our border security architecture, and it continues to evolve to meet new and emerging threats,” Ribadu said.
He added that controlling and destroying illicit small arms complements military operations by steadily reducing the number of weapons available to criminal groups.
“The control and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons is an essential, and sometimes underappreciated, pillar of this strategy.
It complements our kinetic operations by steadily shrinking the pool of weapons available to those who would sow terror or violence in our communities,” he stated.
Ribadu commended the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Kokumo, and his team for their commitment to the initiative.
He also praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for recovering the weapons destroyed during the exercise.
The NSA assured Nigerians that security agencies, under the coordination of his office, remain committed to protecting lives and property across the country.
“Exercises such as this, conducted openly and transparently, are proof of consistent follow-through, not mere ceremony.
Government understands that public confidence is earned through sustained, visible action, and we remain committed to earning it, one milestone at a time,” he said.
Ribadu also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to help detect and prevent emerging security threats before they escalate.
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