Nigerian authorities have dismantled 2,809 illegal and unusable small arms to combat the surge of illicit weaponry contributing to national instability. This operation, conducted Thursday in Abuja by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), raises the agency’s total destruction count to 19,000 units.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, speaking through Dr. Dennis Otuaro, stated that this public disposal reinforces the state’s dedication to national safety. He noted that the availability of unauthorized guns remains a primary driver for insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry. By rendering these items permanently destroyed, the government ensures they cannot re-enter the criminal pipeline.
Backed by President Bola Tinubu, Ribadu explained that the administration is utilizing an intelligence-focused strategy. This approach emphasizes tighter border monitoring, disrupted financing for criminal groups, and closer cooperation among security agencies. Ribadu concluded by urging citizens, traditional leaders, and religious figures to foster peace and assist authorities in identifying illegal weapons trafficking.
