Nigeria Destroys Weapons to Boost Security

Nigeria has destroyed 2,819 illicit, obsolete and decommissioned firearms as part of efforts to curb the spread of illegal weapons and strengthen the country’s fight against insecurity.

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons carried out the public destruction exercise on Thursday, saying the recovered firearms had been permanently rendered unusable to ensure they could not be diverted back into criminal circulation.

Director-General Johnson Kokumo said the exercise demonstrates the government’s commitment to reducing the availability of illicit weapons, which continue to fuel violent crimes, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts across Nigeria.

Authorities said the destruction forms part of a broader strategy to tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which have contributed to insecurity in several parts of the country. Kokumo disclosed that more than 21,000 illegal firearms have been recovered since the agency was established in 2021. Of that figure, over 19,000 weapons have now been destroyed, while investigations and recovery operations remain ongoing nationwide.

The agency said publicly destroying recovered weapons promotes transparency and reassures citizens that seized firearms will not find their way back into circulation. It also noted that continued collaboration with security agencies and international partners remains essential to disrupting illicit arms trafficking networks and improving national security.

Security officials have repeatedly stressed that reducing the number of illegal weapons in circulation is a critical step towards addressing Nigeria’s long-running security challenges and protecting communities affected by armed violence.

SOURCE: Reuters