• Orders clampdown on prohibited firearms

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has warned against arming of vigilantes, quasi-states and regional security outfits with prohibited firearms and weapons, saying it’s in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, and a threat to national security.

The IGP, while observing that several civil groups, vigilantes, quasi-states and regional security outfits under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, notes that the trend if unchecked will pose serious threat to national security,

a statement by the Force Headquarters said yesterday.

The police boss, therefore, ordered a nationwide clampdown on prohibited arms, particularly against the background of impending governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

Adamu, according to the statement, ordered the commissioners of police in the 36 states of the federation to identify, disarm, arrest and prosecute illegal arm owners.

The statement said the clampdown on illegal arms owners had become imperative against the backdrop of deliberate arming and movement of political thugs across the country.

Signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), it said the order was aimed at containing the illegal possession of prohibited firearms.

It stated:

As part of preparations toward the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as efforts by the police high command to curb the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country, the Inspector-General of Police, IG M. A. Adamu, has ordered commissioners of police in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual(s) or group(s) in possession of prohibited firearms.

The directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.

In addition, the directive is targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country, which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act.

The commissioners of police in all the states of the federation and the FCT were also directed to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi-security outfits spread across the country in order to ensure that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.

The IG enjoins citizens to cooperate with the police in the enforcement of this order as it is aimed at ensuring the safety of lives and property in the country,

it said.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.