POLICE WANT VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF ILLEGAL GUN OWNERS.

Babatunji Wusu –

Owners of illicit firearms have been urged by the Osun State Police Command to voluntarily turn them in at the local Divisional Police Headquarters.

This information may be found in a statement made by SP Yemisi Opalola, the spokeswoman for the Osun Police.

Opalola stated that the action was taken in accordance with the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Kayode Egbetokunb’s direction intended to control the proliferation of guns.

“The surrender of the firearms is not subject to any sanctions. No one would be detained or arrested, she assured.

According to NAN, Egbetokun said that the police had ceased issuing licenses for small guns throughout the nation on August 8.

“We are collecting circulating arms. There are too many weapons in use, and if we continue to grant permits for them, we risk making the issues we are attempting to address worse.

“For the time being, the distribution of firearms is prohibited. However, we are not currently giving licenses for the possession of firearms across the country.

For the past few years, Nigeria’s gun laws have been governed by the Firearm Act.

According to the Act, no one is permitted to possess or control a firearm or ammunition unless they receive a license from the President or the Inspector General of Police.

In the interest of public safety and general security, Egbetokun also announced the creation of an ad hoc committee, according to NAN. This committee’s mandate is to conduct a thorough examination of the Nigeria Police Force’s licensing and rules for firearms in accordance with the Firearms Act and other applicable laws.

In order to improve the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the current guns licensing procedures and regulations, the committee’s mission calls for a complete evaluation of them.