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The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, Agboola Oshodi-Glover, has sought a review of the Firearms Act to allow for stiffer penalties for illegal arms handlers, kidnappers kidnapping and perpetrators of crimes nationwide.
The AIG, who controls Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, noted that the extant law encourages illegal possession of firearms due to the somewhat friendly penalty of fines.
Raising the alarm that there were too many arms in wrong hands, Oshodi-Glover called for a legislation that could hasten their mop-up.
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He told reporters yesterday after a lecture with senior police officers in Ibadan, Oyo State that the protection of lives and properties remained undebatable.
Received by the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude in company of other senior officers, the AIG noted that the high volume of firearms in circulation has connection with the widespread kidnapping, armed robberies and other criminal activities in the land.
He enjoined the officers to be familiar with the 1999 Constitution, especially the provisions that deal with the fundamental human rights of citizens.
