The Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, on Wednesday called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to curb the proliferation of illicit arms in the country.
Kokumo, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, made the call during a series of courtesy visits to key stakeholders in Kaduna State as part of his official tour of the North-West Zone.
He said the visit was aimed at assessing the administrative and operational effectiveness of the Centre’s regional structures, as well as strengthening its mandate.
According to him, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons remains a major driver of banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes, particularly in vulnerable regions.
“We must continue to work together through intelligence sharing, joint operations and sustained synergy to effectively address the challenge of illicit arms proliferation,” he said.
At the Department of State Services (DSS) Kaduna office, Kokumo met with the State Director, Akeem Abiola, where he highlighted the vision, mission and core functions of the Centre.
He also spoke on the NCCSALW Establishment Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024, noting that it provides a stronger legal framework for tackling the spread of illicit weapons.
The DG commended the existing cooperation between the Centre and the DSS and called for its sustenance.
Similarly, during a visit to the Command Engineering Depot of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, Kokumo met with the Commander, Maj.-Gen. Oluyede Oladele Arogundade.
He solicited the support of the Nigerian Army, particularly in the use of the depot’s facilities for the destruction of recovered illicit arms and ammunition.
Kokumo also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, in Zaria, where he sought traditional support for the Centre’s activities.
He said traditional institutions play a critical role in community sensitisation and grassroots mobilisation against the proliferation of illegal arms.
In their separate remarks, Abiola, Arogundade and Bamali commended the DG for the visit and pledged continued support and collaboration with the NCCSALW.
They also called for stronger partnerships among security agencies and the public to address insecurity in the North-West and across the country.
The visit featured the presentation of souvenirs, signing of visitors’ books and group photographs.
Kokumo was accompanied by the Zonal Director, North-West, Jamil Mukhtar, a retired Navy Commodore, and other senior officials of the Centre.
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