The Federal Government has destroyed 2,819 illicit and decommissioned small arms and light weapons in Abuja, increasing the total number of illegal firearms permanently removed from circulation to about 19,000.
Authorities also warned arms traffickers that every illegal weapon in circulation would eventually be traced, recovered and destroyed.
The destruction exercise, organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, forms part of efforts to curb the spread of illegal firearms linked to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Speaking during the event on Thursday, the Director-General of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Kokumo, described the exercise as a deliberate, transparent and irreversible step towards strengthening national security.
Kokumo said the 2,819 weapons destroyed were either illegally acquired, decommissioned or no longer serviceable and would never again pose a threat to public safety.
He stressed that the exercise went beyond symbolism, noting that each destroyed weapon represented one less tool available for criminal activities, terrorism or attacks on innocent citizens.
According to him, the Centre has recovered more than 21,000 illicit, obsolete and unserviceable weapons since its establishment. Before Thursday’s exercise, over 16,000 had already been destroyed, bringing the cumulative total to about 19,000 firearms permanently taken out of circulation.
He described the achievement as the result of years of sustained collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies.
Kokumo identified the proliferation of illegal small arms as a major driver of insecurity, linking it to banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, armed robbery and other violent offences.
He explained that the destruction programme complements the Federal Government’s broader security strategy, which includes military operations, intelligence gathering, border security, community policing and socio-economic interventions in conflict-prone areas.
The NCCSALW boss commended the Nigeria Police Force for contributing the largest number of weapons destroyed, revealing that the police supplied 11,907 automatic and locally fabricated firearms recovered during operations across the country.
He also praised the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for releasing seized weapons for destruction.
Issuing a stern warning, Kokumo told illegal arms dealers that every weapon trafficked into the country would eventually be recovered and permanently destroyed.
He added that the transparent destruction process demonstrates the government’s commitment to accountability in handling recovered firearms.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, described the exercise as another major milestone in Nigeria’s campaign against illegal arms.
He said destroying approximately 2,819 illicit, obsolete and unserviceable weapons reflects the government’s sustained commitment to improving national security.
Ribadu noted that illegal firearms continue to fuel terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence across the country, stressing that every recovered and destroyed weapon eliminates a potential threat.
He warned that simply recovering weapons is not enough, as poorly stored or inadequately monitored arms could find their way back into criminal circulation through theft or negligence.
According to him, public and verifiable destruction permanently eliminates that risk and guarantees the weapons can never again be used against Nigerians.
The National Security Adviser also called on citizens to report the illegal manufacture, possession and trafficking of firearms while urging traditional and religious leaders to support peacebuilding efforts and encourage voluntary disarmament.
He concluded with a warning to arms traffickers and illegal manufacturers, saying every illicit weapon recovered by security agencies would ultimately be destroyed and never returned to circulation.
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons was established under the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, 2024, to coordinate efforts aimed at reducing the proliferation of illegal weapons and ensuring all recovered firearms are permanently destroyed.