National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has reassured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to mopping up illegal weapons across the country as part of efforts to improve security and protect lives and property.
He gave the assurance on Thursday during the public destruction of 2,819 illicit, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.
The exercise was carried out by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, bringing the total number of weapons destroyed by the centre to 19,000 since it began operations.
Represented by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, Ribadu said illegal arms remained the lifeline of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
“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.
Ribadu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a new security strategy centred on intelligence-led operations, stronger collaboration among security agencies, disrupting criminal financing and closer cooperation with international partners.
According to him, the strategy has produced positive results across the country, including weakening terrorist networks and strengthening border security.
“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.
“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 seek to spread terror and violence in our communities,” he said.
The National Security Adviser commended the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd.), and his team for their consistency in tackling the proliferation of illegal arms.
He also praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for recovering the weapons.
Ribadu reaffirmed the commitment of the security agencies, under the coordination of his office, to protecting lives and property across the country.
“Let me reassure all Nigerians that our security agencies, under the coordination of this office, remain resolute and united in their constitutional duty to protect lives and property across every part of this country.
“Exercises such as this, conducted openly and transparently, demonstrate consistent action rather than 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.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and members of the public to provide timely intelligence to security agencies to help prevent emerging security threats before they escalate.
