By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
NIGERIA has destroyed 2,819 illicit and obsolete firearms recovered from criminal groups and security operations across the country, as authorities intensified efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons fuelling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The destruction exercise, carried out in Abuja by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to prevent recovered weapons from re-entering circulation and to strengthen national security.
Speaking during the exercise, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s security, contributing significantly to violent crime and instability in several parts of the country.
Ribadu reiterated the government’s commitment to disrupting the illicit arms trade through stronger law enforcement, intelligence gathering and regional cooperation.
The destroyed cache comprised weapons recovered during military operations against terrorists and bandits, arms seized from criminal elements by law enforcement agencies, as well as obsolete and unserviceable firearms handed over by security institutions for disposal.
Director-General of the NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Kokumo, described the exercise as a practical demonstration of Nigeria’s resolve to combat the proliferation of illegal firearms and improve public safety.
According to Kokumo, the latest destruction brings the total number of illicit, obsolete and decommissioned weapons destroyed by the centre since its establishment in 2021 to more than 16,000. He said the exercise was conducted in accordance with international best practices and Nigeria’s obligations under the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the United Nations Programme of Action on illicit arms.
The NCCSALW was created to coordinate national efforts against the spread of illegal weapons, improve arms stockpile management and strengthen collaboration among security agencies. Its mandate was further reinforced following the enactment of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, 2024, which provides the legal framework for regulating the possession, transfer and destruction of illicit weapons in Nigeria.
Nigeria has battled years of insecurity driven by insurgency in the northeast, armed banditry in the northwest, separatist violence in parts of the southeast and kidnapping-for-ransom across several regions. Security experts have consistently identified the widespread availability of illicit firearms as a major factor sustaining these conflicts.
The country also continues to face challenges linked to cross-border arms trafficking through its extensive land borders. Authorities have in recent years intercepted several major weapons shipments, including hundreds of rifles and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition concealed inside shipping containers, underscoring the scale of the trafficking network.
Government officials said routine destruction of recovered weapons is intended to reinforce transparency and public confidence while ensuring seized firearms are permanently removed from circulation. They also urged members of the public to continue providing intelligence to security agencies to support efforts aimed at reducing the availability of illegal weapons and improving national security.
