Nigeria has torched 1,316 illicit weapons in a powerful display of force, with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) warning that the country will not allow criminals and traffickers to undermine its security.
Zig Diaries
| Defence
Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Time: 14:00 WAT
Location: 📍 Giri, Abuja, Nigeria
The destruction exercise, held at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Abuja, underscored Nigeria’s resolve to confront arms trafficking and reclaim communities destabilised by illegal guns.
Director-General of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Johnson Kokumo, said the destruction was “a clear message that Nigeria will not allow its security to be undermined by the illegal arms trade.”
He stated that the arms destroyed had been seized from terrorists, bandits and violent
groups, stressing that the milestone was proof of progress in drying up
circulation.
“These
weapons were recovered from terrorists, bandits and other violent groups. Their
destruction is a milestone in our efforts to curb the spread of illegal arms
and demonstrate Nigeria’s seriousness about global and regional security
obligations,”
He noted
that with this exercise, NCCSALW has destroyed over 13,230 illicit,
unserviceable and obsolete weapons in its four years of existence. The DG
credited the achievement to collaboration with the Armed Forces, Customs,
Police and other agencies.
“Our mandate is clear. We must rid our society of illicit weapons, and we will continue to pursue innovative strategies until these instruments of death are taken out of the hands of criminals,”
The illicit
weapons were destroyed through initial burning and subsequent smelting of
remnant metal parts. The DG revealed that more seized weapons, including those
intercepted at Onne Port and Murtala Muhammed Airport by the Nigeria Customs
Service, remain in custody pending tracing, investigations and legal processes.
“They too
will be destroyed once due processes are completed. Every seized weapon will
meet the same fate. Nigeria cannot afford to allow a single illicit gun back
into circulation,”
Kokumo
highlighted institutional reforms such as the establishment of zonal offices,
routine destruction exercises and strengthened collaboration with ECOWAS, BICC,
HALO Trust, WAANSA and UNDP.
“The world
is watching, and Nigeria is showing leadership. We will not relent until our
country and our sub-region are free from the scourge of illicit arms,”
Fact Check & Background Context
- Official Figure: NCCSALW confirmed 1,316
illicit weapons were destroyed in this exercise.
- Total Destroyed So Far: 13,230 illicit, obsolete and
unserviceable weapons since 2021.
- Mandate: NCCSALW was established under
the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2021 to coordinate
Nigeria’s fight against arms trafficking, in line with ECOWAS Convention
on Small Arms and UN Programme of Action.
- Global Obligations: Nigeria is signatory to multiple frameworks on illicit arms control, making routine destruction exercises part of its international commitments.
🏷️ Tag: NCCSALW, Johnson Kokumo, Illicit Arms, Small Arms Destruction, Nigeria Security, Defence, ONSA, Abuja
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#NCCSALW #NigeriaSecurity #ArmsDestruction #PeaceAndStability
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