Access to arms, key driver for terrorism, insecurity- Dikko

The National Coordinator, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Major General Abba Dikko (retd.), says the centre has established regional offices across the six geopolitical zones for arms control in the country.

He said the offices are located in Maiduguri for the North East, Kaduna for the North West, Minna for the North Central, Enugu for the South East, Calabar for the South-South and Ado Ekiti for the South West.

Dikko spoke during the strategic engagement with Civil Society Organisations on the control of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

He said, “I am delighted to state that since its establishment, the Centre has made giant strides within the short time frame to achieve full operationalization. Of note is the establishment of the regional offices in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“The offices are located in Maiduguri for the North East, Kaduna for the North West, Minna for the North Central, Enugu for the South East, Calabar for the South-South and Ado Ekiti for the South West.

“The operationalisation of the Centre has focused on discharging its core function of providing a strategic platform for arms control in Nigeria through close partnership with stakeholders especially the Civil Society, both locally and internationally.

Accordingly, in the last one year, the Centre has identified and communicated its key priorities, for the short and medium term, to all partners and has received substantial support in areas such as capacity development. ”

He also described easy access to arms as the key driver for terrorism and other forms of insecurity in the country.

Dikko said, “In the last two decades, it has remained a key driver for terrorism, ethno-religious conflicts, violent separatism and sundry organized criminal activities within and across our borders.

“It is also common knowledge that Nigeria has borne the brunt of the instability in the Sahel region occasioned by the push-and-pull effect of arms trafficking.”

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi