Army, NCCSALW join forces against North East insecurity

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) have pledged to collaborate to address insecurity in the Northeast.

The Northeast Zonal Director of the Centre, Maj Gen Abubakar Adamu (retd), and the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Brig Gen Ugochukwu Unachukwu, made the pledge on Wednesday, August 27, during the former’s visit to the army division.

The NCCSALW head stressed that synergy between the centre and the army in the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons will “enhance the campaign and ensure an illicit arms-free society.”

He maintained that the collaboration will also improve the security situation in the area, especially the military operations against insurgency and terrorism.

Adamu explained that the centre is empowered to destroy overused arms and ammunition. He said the centre can also prosecute gun runners and perpetrators of issues involving small arms and light weapons in the Northeast and across the country.

“Effective collaboration and synergy would go a long way to tame the security dynamics of the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the Northeast region,” he stressed.

The Acting GOC of 7 Division, Brig Gen Unachukwu, on his part, acknowledged the unique security challenges faced by the Northeast.

He said insurgency, terrorism, and armed violence facing the area underscore the need for “tailored solutions to address the complex security issues”.