Insecurity: NCCSALW Warns Fake Security Outfits

• Seeks public support against arms proliferation

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Amid worrying security threats in the country, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), South-South zone has raised an alarm over the proliferation of pseudo security outfits parading as agents of the organization.

The South South Zonal Coordinator of the Centre, Major-General Ifiok Obot (rtd) said the activities of such illegal outfits runs contrary to the mandate of NCCSALW and pose serious threats to the effective operation and realization of its objectives.

Speaking in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, General Obot said; “The centre has observed that some unscrupulous elements have sprung up pseudo-security outfits in whatever guise and nomenclature.

“They are aimed at deceiving unsuspecting members of the public by parading themselves as the national organisation for the Control of SALW.”

While urging the public to be wary of such illegal groups, the Zonal Coordinator also said the task of controlling arms and weapons is a delicate one which requires expert training and knowledge of weaponry management.

He said having such measures in place would ensure public safety as well as prevent firearms from straying into the hands of criminals like kidnappers, bandits and armed robbers among others.

The retired General stated that by the law establishing it, the NCCSALW is domiciled in the office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) with the sole mandate to control Small arms and light weapons in the country.

General Obot however urged members of the public to always be alert and weary of unscrupulous elements impersonating the centre, stressing the need to promptly report suspicious elements within their neighborhoods that claim to represent the Centre.

Also warning that such phoney groups are springing up and operating with dubious intentions, the Zonal Chief said the advisory has become imperative given the escalation in the proliferation of SALW that has led to insecurity in Nigeria and globally

Established on 3rd May 2021 through an Executive order by immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, the NCCSALW’s operation is in line with Article 24 of ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.