Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered for the immediate recovery of all prohibited arms and prosecution of the owners of such weapons.
The directive was given to Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
Police spokesman, Frank Mba, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday titled, “Ahead of Edo and Ondo governorship elections, IG orders nationwide clampdown on the proliferation of prohibited firearms.”
Mba said the directive was against the backdrop of the “deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.”
In addition, he stated that the move is targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act.
The statement partly reads;
In a similar vein, Commissioners of Police in all the states of the federation and the FCT have been directed to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi security outfits spread across the country in order to ensure that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.
The IGP, while observing that several civil groups – vigilantes, quasi states and regional security outfits – under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, noted that the trend if unchecked would pose serious threat to national security.
The IGP enjoined citizens to cooperate with the police in the enforcement of this order as it is aimed at ensuring safety of lives and property in the country.
Edo state election is scheduled to hold on September 19 while election in Ondo state is scheduled for October 10, 2020.
