…APPLAUDS TINUBU POLITICAL WILL TO EQUIP POLICE
By Okosun Dennis
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), IGP Solomon Ehigiator Arase (retd) has said that the proliferation of small arms and weapons remains one of the gravest threats to our national security architecture.
As such, he called for a concerted effort to stem the scourge as such illicit weapons have continuously fueled conflicts, perpetuated violence, and destabilized communities across the country.
In a keynote address delivered on Thursday at the 2023 National Security Conference organised by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the ebullient Solomon Arase observed that through proactive steps taken by all stakeholders, significant strides have been achieved in addressing the conundrum.
Representative by AIG Ade Shinaba (retd), Arase commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to addressing the increasing small arms and light weapons; and his unfettered political will to galvanize peace, security and confronting other security challenges facing our nation.
Adumbrating the theme: “Uptick of Lethal Weapons as Security Threat: Arm-Full, Harm-Full in the New Dispensation,” the former Inspector General of Police noted that the partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and the National Commission for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) have done fantastic job as they have been instrumental in curbing the illicit trade and circulation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
Applauding such collaboration between the two agencies, he averred that such alliance has been pivotal in stemming the scourge, stressing that the present administration’s acquisition of modern tools and resources, especially non-lethal weapons, is crucial in our efforts to counter the threats posed by armed groups and criminal organizations.
Arase thanked President Tinubu for his kind “approval for the recruitment of 30,000 police officers which would bolster the force and enhance its capacity to tackle insecurity as well as curb the proliferation of arms in the hands of non-state actors.
He further explained “The challenges are complex and multifaceted, and we need the collective efforts of all Nigerians to succeed. It is essential that communities, civil society
organizations, and other stakeholders work closely with the police to report suspicious activities, provide information, and promote peace and security.
“We are also committed to ensuring that all matters related to appointment, promotion, and discipline are handled promptly and fairly. The principles of federal character and competence are fundamental in our decision-making processes, ensuring that every officer is treated fairly and their contributions duly recognized,” he reiterated.
On his part, the Lagos State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commandant Usman Ishaq Alfadarai disclosed that they have always disposed of properly recovered firearms and ammunition to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
One of the panelists, the Chief Executive Officer, Safety Signatures Limited, Dr. Cynthia Gregg called for community engagement to deal with concomitant problems of the proliferation of lethal weapons she commended NAOSNP for its advocacy through its enviable conferences.
Other speakers during the panel included the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi who called for citizens’ cooperation to combat the effrontery of criminals just as he emphasized that assisting with useful information about illicit arms in the hands of the non-state actors would assist a great deal making quick arrest and mopping up such weapons.
He disclosed that some individuals now fabricate locally made automatic weapons for criminals, but warned them to turn over a new leaf, quit their illegal trade, or be ready to romance with the law enforcement agencies on the back side
Making his contribution, Lt Col Ngulde of Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Bonny Cantonment, who bagged the Most Active School of Public Relations in 2023, said citizens’ cooperation remains a veritable weapon to effectively deal with the nuisance value of lethal weapon proliferation.
In her contribution, Dr. Patrick Areghan, Head, National Office West African Examination Council (WAEC), who bagged the Man of the Year Award in Education and was represented by Mrs. Moyosola Adesina called on relevant security agencies to intensify various strategies to nib in the bud illegal small firearms as staffers of WAEC had suffered various attacks during the examination as criminals hijacked their officers and confiscated questions papers at gunpoint.
To others, some blamed the porous borders as responsible for the increased illicit arms trade in the country, adding that some of such weapons are sneaked into the country from neighbouring countries.
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