OFFICE OF THE NSA INAUGURATES SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS FOR NORTH CENTRAL ZONAL OFFICE IN NIGER STATE 07-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The North Central Zonal Office of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has been inaugurated in Minna, Niger State.
At the ceremony, the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the facility would enhance operational efficiency in intelligence gathering stakeholders engagement and implementation of policies to mop up illegal arms in the region.
The North Central Zone comprising Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau States are at present having it’s share of Security challenges due to illicit circulation of illegal arms.
Thousands of innocent souls have been killed by non State actors while unquantifiable sources of livelihoods have equally been destroyed.
The National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu noted that, the spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons remains one of the biggest threats to National Security due to their accessibility by bandits, terrorists, kidnapers. and other criminal groups.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu stated that the new North Central Zonal Office signified Federal Government’s renewed commitment to ensure a safer Nigeria for all, eradicate the sources, and channels through which unauthorized weapons find their ways into the hands of criminals
The National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu represented by the Director General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokuma retired, urged Nigerians to always be security conscious.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the North Central Zone as one of the worst hit regions in terms of proliferation of litght weapons and ammunitions.
Governor Bago advocated regular interaction between the Office of the National Security Adviser and North Central States to have first hand information of insecurity.
There were presentations from representatives of North Central Zone appreciating the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for the Zonal Office.