… CPs to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute offenders
As part of preparations toward the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a clampdown on the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country.
The Police Chief gave the order to Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual(s) or group(s) in possession of prohibited firearms, Frank Mba, Police spokesman, said in an emailed statement Sunday.
Mba said the directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country. In addition, the directive 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.
He added that Commissioners of Police in all the States of the Federation and the FCT had also 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, notes that the trend if unchecked, will pose serious threat to national security,” Mba said.
He said Adamu enjoined Nigerians 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.
The governorship elections in Edo and Ondo, scheduled for September and October, respectfully, have witnessed varying levels of crisis that have raised concerns over the peaceful conduct of the polls.
The crisis has been more pronounced in Edo, where the two leading parties, the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, have engaged in violent attacks against each other.
