Parades 33 suspects

Over 25 AK-47 rifles and other firearms seized by the Bauchi State Police Command have been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State, Umar Sanda, who handed over the weapons to NCCSALW Director of Operations, Chris Owolabi, yesterday, at the Command’s Headquarters, said the weapons were seized between June 2021 and February 2022 across the state.

Sanda disclosed that other arms seized include one locally made Sub-Machine Gun, one SMG, one locally made fabricated AK-47, 29 Rusted/unserviceable locally made P/cartridges, 27 Rusted/unserviceable locally-made revolver, one English Barretta and one Magazine, two P/Barretta and one locally made Dane gun.

According to him, the recovered mopped-up ammunition include 874 7.6mm, 5,022 5.56mm, 113 9X19mm, 274 62.7mm, 177 38mm and 87 blanks.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is determined to stop the senseless bloodletting and insecurity occasioned by Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in circulation within our communities by mopping up all illicit weapons; as well as controlling the proliferation of all weapons in the holdings of all arms-bearing agencies/organisations in the country.

“It is in this vein that President Mohammadu Buhari, approved the establishment of the NCCSALW in March 2021 to institutionalise SALW control at all levels of the polity; and to mainstream illicit SALW eradication efforts,” he said.

He urged the public to support the government to eradicate illicit SALW in circulation and by extension, promote an illicit arms-free society.

Sanda said robust synergy and partnership with sister security agencies, local security outfits, and other non-governmental organisations was cultivated in order to nip crimes of various degrees in the bud and flush criminals out of the state.

Reacting, Owolabi said the Federal Government would intensify efforts towards mopping up more weapons and ammunition across the country.

He said: “ Just three weeks ago, we made some recoveries in Owerri, Imo State in collaboration with the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). We do this with security agencies across the nation to recover these firearms.”

MEANWHILE, Sanda said 33 suspects were arrested in connection with various crimes in the state.