The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called for stronger collaboration and real-time intelligence sharing between the Nigeria Police Force and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) to combat the proliferation of illegal arms across the country.
The IGP made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the Director-General and management team of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons during a courtesy visit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Disu described the visit as long overdue and commended the Centre for its efforts in reducing the spread of illicit weapons, stressing that the Nigeria Police remains committed to deepening its partnership with the agency.
He noted that as the country’s primary internal security agency, the police have extensive access to communities nationwide and are at the forefront of recovering illicit, stolen and locally manufactured weapons.
According to him, the police have consistently contributed significantly to the recovery of illegal firearms, with specialised units such as the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and other tactical formations making daily recoveries across the country.
The police chief also praised the Centre for recently organising specialised training on armoury management, arms safety and the handling of recovered weapons, describing it as beneficial to police officers. He expressed optimism that similar capacity-building programmes would continue.
Speaking on the fight against illegal arms, the IGP emphasised that every weapon recovered and destroyed reduces the threat posed by criminals and makes policing more effective.
He stressed that intelligence remains the most critical weapon in tackling arms trafficking, calling for seamless and real-time information sharing among security agencies to intercept illegal weapons before they reach criminal elements.
The IGP warned that illegal firearms are being transported across the country through roads and waterways, with many originating from conflict zones before finding their way into other parts of Nigeria.
He also raised concerns over the country’s porous borders, noting that arms traffickers continue to exploit unmanned border routes to smuggle weapons into the country.
Beyond cross-border trafficking, the IGP identified black markets and local arms manufacturers as major sources of illegal weapons, revealing that security operatives have recovered locally fabricated firearms that closely resemble imported weapons, complete with imitation serial numbers and branding.
He called for intensified efforts to dismantle illegal arms manufacturing networks, saying disrupting production would significantly reduce the availability of weapons to criminal groups.
On armoury security, the IGP stressed the need for regular audits and stricter supervision of personnel responsible for safeguarding government weapons.
He acknowledged that some security personnel across various agencies had previously been implicated in the illegal sale of firearms, making periodic inspections and accountability measures necessary.
The IGP also advocated increased public awareness campaigns to encourage citizens to report illegal weapons and support ongoing civil disarmament efforts.
He reminded Nigerians that security is a collective responsibility, noting that illegal firearms in private hands ultimately threaten innocent citizens.
With elections approaching, the IGP disclosed that the Nigeria Police has already intensified operations to recover illegal weapons from unauthorised persons and promised that the exercise would become more aggressive in the coming months.
He further proposed a joint nationwide campaign with the National Centre to encourage individuals in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender them to the authorities.
Commending the Centre for its professionalism, the IGP urged its leadership to sustain its efforts, noting that the agency’s success in recovering and destroying illicit weapons directly contributes to improving national security and supports the work of the Nigeria Police Force.
