Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under the leadership guide of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has reaffirmed the legal authority of National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW; in controlling illegal security outfits in the country.
The authority was reaffirmed in Abuja, today, May 28 2024, after the pronouncement against an illegal security outfit known as National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms and Ammunition, Light Weapons(NATFORCE).
It would be recalled that this same organization had been dislodged by Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola in 2022, at the State House, Abuja.
However, according to reports, the security outfit had been partially operating since last three years and they had always been arrested by law enforcement agencies, while some were still being prosecuted.
The statement released and signed by ONSA also disclosed how members of the public are falling for the fraudulent activities of NATFORCE which had still been rebranded as NATCOM.
The statement read in part: “We remind the public that NATFORCE and NATCOM are not part of Nigeria’s security architecture and have no affiliation with any official security agency. These outfits are not backed by federal law, lack the authority to recruit, and are not approved to operate as security organizations.
“To clarify, pursuant to Section 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Nigeria established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), which has been under the Office of the National Security Adviser since 3 May 2021.”
Zakaru Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication for ONSA, in the signed statement asserted further by saying NCCSALW is the only body coordinating all other stakeholders to implement ECOWAS and UN guidelines for control of small arms and light weapons.
The office of ONSA implored stakeholders, by signaling: “We advise State Governments, international organizations, the private sector, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant about the activities of illegal security outfits operating under any name or form. We encourage close collaboration with the NCCSALW to address concerns around the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
“Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to continue arresting and prosecuting individuals and groups who fraudulently present themselves to the public as security forces.”