The Federal Government has concluded plans to mop up small arms and light weapons in seven states of the federation.
The Presidential Committee on Small Arms and light weapons listed the states as Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River respectively.
The Project Director, PRESCOM, Dickson Orji, disclosed to newsmen in Abuja on Monday at a four-day training programme for security personnel on new standard operating procedures on physical security and stockpile management.
He said the mop-up would consolidate on previous efforts on eradication of illegal arms proliferation in the country.
Orji also revealed that that committee with support from international partners had destroyed about 7000 illegal arms in Benue, Katsina and Zamfara states.
“We have engaged state governments and asked them to begin the civilian disarmament programme in their various states.
“So far we are working in these seven states, and this is an ECOWAS-EU small arms project, we are working with five states from the North and two states from the South-East,” he said.
He added that as part of the civilian disarmament initiative of PRESCOM and EU- ECOWAS, civilians who voluntarily gave up arms will be provided with alternative means of livelihood.
He further stated that the ineffective weapons stockpile system being operated by most paramilitary forces in the country posed a major challenge to programmes aimed at eradicating small and light arms proliferation in the country.
https://punchng.com/fg-moves-to-mop-up-firearms-in-kaduna-zamfara-others/