Sokoto: Nigerian Army hands over recovered firearms, ammunition to control centre

The 8 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters in Sokoto State, has handed over recovered Firearms and Ammunition to the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in-charge of North West.

 

Handing over the Firearms, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General Uwem Bassey, said the weapons were recovered through ‘Operation Hadarin Daji’ which have a Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State as part of efforts to control the illicit circulation and flow of firearms in the society.

According to him, the weapons were recovered between 2018 to May, 2022 with AK47 as predominant in the States of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi.

 

” We have today 203 AK47, 4 automatic fabricated Riffles, 7 G3 Riffles, 1 Soft Machine Gun, 7 General Purpose Machine Gun, 1 Light Machine Gun and 410 locally made Guns and 71 locally Pistols among others.

           

” For assorted Ammunition there are  2, 522 of 7.62mm and 48 Special use for AK 47, 80 magazines of AK47 Riffles,” General Bassey highlighted.

 

He commended the troops for job well done, but urged them to redouble efforts to ensure ammunition free societies in the country.

General Bassey also solicited for more cooperation of the populace especially in the North Western zone of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States.

 

” We cannot do this without your support and cooperation the good people of the zone.

 

” We also seek for credible, timely and intelligent information that would enable troops at the field to be proactive, ahead of enemies and bring an end to various rate of criminality especially banditry and kidnapping as you are all aware security is everyone business,” he noted.

 

Receiving the firearms, the National Coordinator of the Center in North West, Air Vice Marshal, Haruna Mohammed, (rtd) commended the troops of operations Hadarin Daji’ and other security operatives for the huge achievement.

 

He urged the troops to maintain the tempo and ensure proper control of inflow of illegal arms with bad elements across the country.

 

” Once we can do away with small arms and light weapons with bad elements  we will have a peaceful society in our country.

 

“Security is everyone business, therefore all hands must be on deck to ensure effective control of these dangerous weapons and light ammunition within our communities,” Mohammed explained.

 

According to him, as 2023 general elections is around the corner the Centre would continue to collaborate with security operatives and ensure free, fair and arms free elections across the country.

 

He also thanked Defense Headquarters and all other security operatives for their support and understanding towards realising the Center’s set objectives.

 

Mohammed therefore urged all members of the public to support the Government in it’s efforts to eradicate illicit SALW in circulation and by extension, promote an illicit arms- free society.

 

 

 

 

Ime N