Arms Control Centre Warns Against Names Dropping

The Director General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), DIG Johnson Kokumo has warned against misusing the Centre’s name while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to prosecuting offenders.

DIG Kokumo gave this warning recently during his maiden familiarisation visit to the NCCSALW North West Zonal Office in Kaduna.

According to Director of Strategic Communications and Information at NCCSALW, Pius Okwuego, the visit was part of his familiarisation tour of all NCCSALW Zonal Offices.

Okwuego said the purpose of the tour was also to assess current operational activities, strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, and get a firsthand understanding of the location, personnel, and activities at each zonal office.

The DG, during the visit, acknowledged the receipt of 844 seized weapons intercepted at Onne by the Nigerian Customs Service, with 10 suspects linked to illegal arms importation currently undergoing prosecution.

He stressed the connection between insecurity and the spread of small arms and light weapons, particularly for the stakeholders present.

Following the visit to the Zonal Office, the DG and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe.

During this meeting, DIG Kokumo reiterated the Centre’s mandate to curb the proliferation of illicit weapons and sought continued collaboration with the Kaduna State Government and other stakeholders.

The Director General expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State Government for the provision of land for the construction of a permanent office for the NCCSALW North West Zone.

He solicited continued collaboration from the State and other partners to achieve the Centre’s goal of ensuring peace and security across the region and the nation at large.

After the meeting at the Government House, the Director-General visited the construction site of the Zonal Centre’s permanent office, which is still in progress. He also examined the proposed armoury site at the 1 Base Ordnance Depot.