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FG Destroys 1,065 Arms, 963 Ammunition

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
May 25, 2004
Posted to the web May 26, 2004

By Chris Ochayi
Abuja
THE Federal Government yesterday in Abuja destroyed 1,065 arms and 963
ammunition seized from bandits, with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa
Balogun, warning that tough times await criminals in Nigeria.
Police and other security agencies recovered the arms and ammunition from
bandits in 18 states: Plateau, Jigawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Oyo, Ondo,
Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Katsina
and Kebbi
The destruction took place at the Lungi Barracks with Minister of Defence, Dr.
Rabiu Kwankwaso; Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia; Inspector
General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun; Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Broderick
Bozimo as well as the Chairman, Presidential Committee of Recovery of Illegal
Arms, Brigadier General Ishaya Maigari in attendance.
Dr. Kwankwaso said on the occasion that the exercise was ABUJA--THE Federal
Government yesterday in Abuja destroyed 1,065 arms and 963 ammunition seized
from bandits, with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, warning
that tough times await criminals in Nigeria.
Police and other security agencies recovered the arms and ammunition from
bandits in 18 states: Plateau, Jigawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Oyo, Ondo,
Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Niger, Edo, Katsina
and Kebbi
The destruction took place at the Lungi Barracks with Minister of Defence, Dr.
Rabiu Kwankwaso; Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia; Inspector
General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun; Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Broderick
Bozimo as well as the Chairman, Presidential Committee of Recovery of Illegal
Arms, Brigadier General Ishaya Maigari in attendance.
Dr. Kwankwaso said on the occasion that the exercise was in concert with
various bodies such as European Union, the Commonwealth, and other
stakeholders, saying: "We are doing all what we can really to stop the
proliferation of illegal arms in this country."
According to him, it was in a bid to stop this proliferation of illegal arms
that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) set up the committee under his
leadership. He named other members of the committee as Chief of Defence Staff,
Minister of Police Affairs, Inspector General of Police and the Director
General SSS amongst others.
The IG, Mr. Balogun, said the task force was set up by government when high
profile killings and armed bandits operations were becoming embarrassing to the
nation. The Police boss, who said Nigeria borrowed the idea from Canadian,
explained: "Canada tried it and today Canada is the most peaceful country in
the world," adding: "So, we are determined to rid the country of illegal arms."

   

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