Nagogo Usman gives TET 7-day ultimatum to mop up illegal arms

Nagogo Usman , Zamfara State Commissioner of Police’s renewed commitment to guarantee protection of lives and property across the state, was, on Thursday, August 13, taken to the next level through an unmistakable instructions to Divisional Police Officers, DPOs and Area Commanders to roll up their sleeves and mop up all illegal arms and ammunition in the system.

This is contained in a press statement signed and issued by Superintendent Mohammed shehu, the Command’s public relations officer.

According to the statement, Usman Nagogo, has set up a Police Joint Task Enforcement Team headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations.

The team has a mandate  to commence the mop-up of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunitions from unauthorized persons.

Nagogo therefore, instructed that those in possession of such firearms are given seven  days from today, 13th  August, 2020 to surrender them to the Task Force team or any nearest Police Station they are domiciled.  

The statement added that the operation, which among other purposes, is aimed at  full enforcement of the Firearms Act, mopping-up and recovery of all prohibited firearms and illegally acquired weapons, will enable the Command deal decisively with the prevailing security challenges ranging from banditry,  kidnappings, armed robbery, cattle rustling and other crimes in the state.

Nagogo stressed further that the operation will equally include cordon, search, raid, seizure from any premises, hideouts, dwelling houses or buildings or sites of completed or under construction facilities  or any other location where these illegal-prohibited firearms are kept or on reasonable suspicion are believed to be kept.

He however specified that security agencies recognized and gazetted by the federal government of Nigeria are to bear firearms of specified category. Therefore, members of the public, individuals and groups such as vigilantes,  town unions, hunters and watch night men or any group or association under any capacity other than statutory are advised to comply within the specified grace period.

Area Commanders and DPOs  are under strict instruction by the Commissioner of Police to carry out and enforce this Act in totality in their respective areas of responsibility.

They were also directed to convey a security stakeholders meeting immediately to sensitize and educate the members of the general public on this development.

Nagogo disclosed that this line of action became necessary as a result of the proliferation of firearms among many groups, including vigilante, militia and all other groups.

Said he: “It is important to remind the general public that “Part II (3) of the schedule of the Firearms Act L.N32  of 1959  Prohibited the possession of firearms mentioned in Part 1 of Firearms Act except in accordance with a license granted by Mr. President.”