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Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Umar Sanda handing over the weapons to Director of Operations, NCCSLW, CP Chris Owolabi, left
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Police Command, on Tuesday, handed over, mopped up and recovered 25 AK-47 rifles among other firearms and ammunition to the National Center for the Control of Small and Light Weapons (NCCSLW), office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in the Presidency.
While handing over the firearms and ammunition to the Director Operations of the Center, CP Chris Owolabi at the Command headquarters in Bauchi, State Police Commissioner, Umar Sanda said that the arms and ammunition were recovered between June 2021 and January 2022.
According to Umar Sanda,the recoveries were made possible through information availed to the Command by members of the general public adding that a robust synergy and partnership with sister security agencies, local security outfits and other nongovernmental organisations were cultivated to nip crimes of various degrees in the bud and flush criminals out of the state.
The CP added that other firearms recovered included one locally made SMG, one locally fabricated AK-47; one English Barretta and one Magazine; two P/Barretta; 29 rusted/unserviceable locally made P/catridges; 27 rusted/unserviceable locally made revolver and one locally made Dane gun.
The ammunitions mopped up by the command, according to him also included 874 7.6mm; 5,022 5.56mm; 113 9X19mm; 274 62.7mm; 177 38mm and 87 Blank.
He further informed that mopping up of illegal Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in circulation was part of efforts by the Federal Government to stop senseless bloodletting and insecurity in the country.
The Commissioner added that the efforts are also aimed at controlling the proliferation of all weapons in the holding of all arms-bearing agencies/organisations in the country.
“It is in this vein that President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, approved the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in March 2021 to institutionalize SALW control at all levels of the polity; and to mainstream illicit SALW eradication efforts,” he added.
While urging members of the public to support the government in its efforts to eradicate illicit SALW in circulation and by extension, promote an illicit arms-free society, CP Sanda assured law-abiding citizens in the state of the police command’s renewed and unwavering determination and commitment to their safety and security.
He concluded that, “I, therefore, crave the indulgence of your collaboration and support as the command needs credible information from the members of the public to make our work easy.This is aimed at policing the state with the aim of ridding it of criminals and criminality,”.
While receiving the mopped up fire arms on behalf of the Center, Commissioner of Police, Chris Owolabi in charge of Operations, commended the Bauchi State Police Command for mopping up the firearms and ammunition and handing over same to the agency.
Chris Owolabi lamented that there is illegal arms and ammunition across the country saying that efforts must be made by all security agencies to intensify efforts on how to mop up the firearms and ammunition in order to promote a crime free society.
He assured that the firearms and ammunition recovered will be further investigated in order to trace the owners and how they got them adding that at the end of it, they will be destroyed.
