POLICE TURN OVER 7,395 ARMS AND AMMUNITION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Usman Baba, the inspector general of police, oversaw the transfer of over 7,395 recovered firearms, rounds of ammunition, and cartridges to the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

The NCCSALW received the items, which included 3,980 guns of various calibres, on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The weapons included 265 automatic rifles, 146 pump action weapons, 1,909 pistols made locally, 1,500 single barrel weapons made locally, 98 double barrel weapons made locally, 46 general purpose machine guns (GPMGs), 16 rocket launchers made locally, two anti-aircraft weapons made locally, and seven rocket propelled grenades (RPGs).

Additionally, 1,057 different cartridges and 2,358 different calibres of ammunition were evenly delivered to the agency.

The IGP, who spoke at the event, explained that the exercise was a component of the Nigeria Police Force’s efforts to reduce the threat posed by the proliferation of illegal Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) trafficking within the nation.

In a similar vein, he claimed that under his direction, the Nigeria Police Force had been reviewing and reevaluating its operational strategies while building institutional capacity in relation to the production of actionable intelligence and the conduct of special operations meant to prevent the spread of weapons.

Abba Dikko, the coordinator of the NCCSALW, who also spoke at the event, said the organization will evaluate the weapons and reissue the ones in working order to the Police for use in furthering the interests of the nation.

Additionally, he issued a warning to anyone smuggling weapons into the nation, warning them that the security services would track them down, seize them, and use them to bring out the importers and smugglers.