Report Cases of Illegal Firearms, Weapons – Centre Charges Corps Members

...sensitises them on the essence of a crime-free society

The National Centre for the Control of Firearms and Light Weapons on Thursday took its advocacy towards ensuring a crime-free society to the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State.

The aim, according to the Centre’s Southwest Director, Benson Sola Akinlade was to orientate the youth on the need to be part of the effort to mop up illegal firearms and weapons from society.

Addressing the corps members who were gathered at the Hall of the orientation camp for the usual sensitisation and awareness lecture, Akinlade urged them to always be security conscious wherever they may be.

Ajibade maintained that the proliferation of firearms and weapons was a danger to society and it required all hands to be on deck to change the narrative.

He said “To all esteemed corps members, you are enjoined to be vigilant in your places of primary assignment as well as any community you find yourselves to report any person or group who are not authorized to carry illicit weapons in public or social gathering to law enforcement agencies or call the Zonal coordinator through his GSM number, 08034172808. Your identity will be protected.

“I am here today to further solicit your cooperation and support, as youths and leaders of tomorrow, in the battle against the proliferation of SALWs in our Nation. With NYSC synergising and working towards the same goal, Nigeria would be a better place for all Nigerians, as well as the coming generation.”

Speaking on the successes recorded so far by the centre, the Zonal Coordinator revealed that thousands of illicit firearms and ammunition had been recovered and destroyed by the Centre with the support of security agencies in the country.

Ben Sola Akinlade who warmed that the civilians cannot control arms tasked Nigerians including corps members to report cases of illegal firearms and weapons in their areas to appropriate authorities.

“Observation has been made recently of some unscrupulous and unauthorized outfits moving around, deceitfully presenting themselves as the focal organizations for the control of illicit Small Arms and light weapons, creating false impressions of the legitimacy and authority of the centre. Notable among these illegal organizations are NATFORCE and NATCOM.”

“The action of these unauthorized bodies has the propensity to further compound the already complex task of Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and may potentially result in confusion and a lack of credibility leading to administrative and legal disputes, which may hinder the centre from effectively carry out its mandate” Ajibade stated.

The acting Director, Southwest area office of the NYSC, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun had tasked the corps members to prioritize their personal security.

She identified discipline as the hallmark of any form of security, adding that it would help them to stay safe.

A total of 2553 corps members are camping as Batch A stream 2 in Ede, Osun State, 648 of whom were posted to Lagos but now camping in Osun due to the ongoing renovation of the NYSC Camp.