Police Recover 182 Illicit Arms In 1 Month, As IGP Orders Continuous Mop-up To Ensure Peaceful Poll

The Nigerian Police Force disclosed that additional 182 sophisticated arms and 430 ammunitions of various calibres have been recovered within the last month.

According to a statement by the spokesperson, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, who made the disclosure, has ordered continuous mop-up exercise to decimate the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition in the country.

The exercise according to Adejobi is also to mitigate any form of insecurity or threats to the ongoing electoral processes and general safety of Nigerians.

As the nation goes to conduct governorship and National Assembly elections on Saturday, 18^th March, there are indications that some political actors in different parts of the country are stockpiling arms and hiring thugs for the purpose of using them to cause violence and rigging.

“The IGP has ordered the continuous mop-up of illicit arms and ammunition across the nation as part of efforts of the Force, as the lead agency in internal security management, to curb the trafficking of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) within the country and mitigate any form of insecurity or threats to the ongoing electoral processes and general safety of Nigeria.

“The IGP confirmed that within one month from the handover of previously recovered arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) on the 16th of February, 2023, the Nigeria Police has recovered additional 182 sophisticated arms and 430 ammunitions of various calibres. He ordered all Commands and Formations to intensify efforts towards decimating the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition in the country,” Adejobi stated.

The Force PRO also stated that the IGP has extended additional human and logistic support to police Commands and Formations across the country for effective election security management during the forthcoming elections.

“The additional support includes the deployment of personnel, operational vehicles, non-lethal weapons, personal protective equipment (body armor), anti-riot equipment, etc.,” he added.

The IGP further charged all “Strategic Police Managers to deploy the additional distributed operational assets and manpower to ensure the emplacement of a proper security arrangement for the upcoming elections,” adding that “all hands must be on deck to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and secure environment.”