The Nigeria Police has begun serious surveillance efforts towards recovering illegal arms in circulation all over the country ahead of the 2015 general elections.
According to Public Relations Officer of the Police, Mr Frank Mba, surveillance is on public armouries within the countries and around its borders to prevent illegal possession of arms.
“One major factor behind thuggery is the proliferation of illegal arms. As a result of this, we have been mopping up arms across the country”, Mba said.
“Many illegal arms have been discovered in Lagos State. Police in other states are doing same. We are mounting surveillance on public armouries to check proliferation of light arms in wrong hands. The Marine police are checking our waters, particularly in Niger Delta. We are checking local arms production”.
Mba added that arms-making factories in states such as Edo and Anambra have been uncovered and destroyed. He assured that the determination to clear our illegal arms is so strong that security agents such as the Department of State Service, Civil Defence Corps, Immigration, Customs and private security organisations are all collaborating to achieve the aim.
“As we speak, the inspector-general of police has placed embargo on issuance of licence to individuals for arms. This is just one way to check arms in the country”, he said.
“The IGP has reduced the use of Police escorts by politicians and some private persons nationwide. Surveillance has also been placed on politicians and private persons, with a view to checking anyone using police officers without permit”.
