ONSA Cautions Public Against Illegal Security Outfits, Reaffirms NCCSALW As Only Authority For Control of Small Arms, Light Weapons

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has warmed the public against the activities of an illegal outfit known as NATFORCE and NATCOM who have no affiliation with any official security agency.

These outfits the statement clarified are not backed by federal law, lack the authority to recruit, and are not approved to operate as security organizations. 

In a statement by the Head of Strategic Communication Office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa emphasized that NATFORCE and it's rebranded format NATCOM are not part of Nigeria's security architecture. 

ONSA made it clear that pursuant to Section 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Nigeria established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), which has been under the Office of the National Security Adviser since 3 May 2021. 

The NCCSALW is the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria, coordinating with all relevant stakeholders to implement the UN and ECOWAS Plans of Action on the control of small arms and light weapons with current National Coordinator of the NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd), appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 26 March 2024.

It would be recalled that in 2021, ONSA directed the dismantling of illegal security outfits involved in extorting and harassing Nigerians and the public was specifically cautioned about an illegal group known as NATFORCE.

Over the past three years, law enforcement agencies have acted against individuals operating these illegal outfits some of these individuals have been arrested and are currently being prosecuted the statement said.

Despite these efforts however, some members of the public, including key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, have fallen victim of the fraudulent activities of NATFORCE, which has recently rebranded as NATCOM, despite clear directives to dismantle all illegal security outfits.

The Office of the NSA therefore advised State Governments, international organizations, the private sector, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant against the activities of illegal security outfits operating under any name or form. It also encourage close collaboration with the NCCSALW to address concerns around the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to continue arresting and prosecuting individuals and groups who fraudulently present themselves to the public as security forces.