National Centre and NPS Unite to Combat Banditry and Arms Proliferation

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons is partnering with the National Park Service to combat banditry and criminal activities in Nigerian parks, as emphasized by DIG Johnson Kokumo. The collaboration aims to address the proliferation of small arms and improve park security through capacity-building and potential legislative support.

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has committed to a collaborative effort with the National Park Service (NPS) to address banditry and related criminal activities within Nigeria’s parks. This initiative was highlighted by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, the Centre’s Coordinator, during a visit to the NPS headquarters in Abuja.

DIG Kokumo emphasized the importance of joint efforts by stating the mission is to foster understanding, support, and collaboration in combating criminal elements. He noted the need to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, citing that Nigeria’s porous borders facilitate the illegal entry of arms. Kokumo pointed out that specific forest routes have been identified as significant pathways for this proliferation.

Furthermore, he recognized the NPS’s crucial role in mitigating crime and assured the agency of support in building capacity and sharing intelligence. In response, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General (C-G) of the NPS, acknowledged the partnership and raised concerns about the various security challenges that parks face including banditry, insurgency, illegal logging, poaching, and mining, stressing the increasing sophistication of loggers equipped with firearms.

Dr. Goni called upon the Centre to provide the NPS with advanced patrol equipment, detectors, and weaponry to tackle these pressing threats effectively. He also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborating on capacity-building initiatives and suggested a review of the National Park Act to enhance security within the parks.

The partnership between the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the National Park Service aims to combat banditry and arms proliferation in Nigeria’s parks. The emphasis on collaboration, capacity-building, and the need for modern equipment reflects the urgent challenges posed by criminal elements in these areas. Moving forward, an enhanced legal framework may be necessary to support park security effectively.

Original Source: nannews.ng