Safer Society: Arms Control Center and NUJ Join Forces
Combating Illicit Weapons to Protect Communities
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons will collaborate with the Kwara Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to achieve its goals.
The centre’s Zonal Director for North Central Zone, Maj.-Gen. Hamza Bature (rtd.) said this during a courtesy visit to the Kwara NUJ on Tuesday in Ilorin.
He said this would be in the prevention, control and mopping up of illicit and light weapons circulating illegally in the country.
Bature said the visit’s purpose was sensitisation and advocacy to enable the centre to propagate its mandate.
He said the problems of insecurity bedevilling the country could be traced to illicit small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorised persons.
”Security agents who carry arms refrain in the use of firearms, but most people carrying unauthorised weapons do not have formal orientation, and most of the firearms are unlicensed.
”This is dangerous for our generation and that of our children because no parent will want to bequeath a violent society to his/her child,” the Zonal Director said.
He added that the Centre was working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, traditional institutions and faith-based organisations to mobilise the society against the proliferation of arms.
Bature solicited the understanding and support of Kwara NUJ as a body to help propagate the dangers of arms proliferation and its inherent consequences.
”We see NUJ as a veritable platform that can help us propagate this agenda and sensitise the people about our mandate and how it is for the benefit of all.
”So, we are partnering with the NUJ in the fight against illicit and light weapons circulating illegally in the country,” he said.
In his response, the Kwara NUJ Chairman, Ahmed Lateef, said the Centre’s establishment became imperative because any unauthorised arms-bearer creates fear and is potentially dangerous for society.
Lateef said the Centre, beyond mopping up, could also prevent the menace by knowing what encouraged or led the bearer to carry arms.
He pledged the Council’s readiness to collaborate and synergise with the Centre to ensure that the society was free from illicit firearm-bearing. (NAN)
