Nigeria Destroys 2,800 Illicit Firearms in Abuja Exercise
Last update: March 27, 2026
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National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu says illicit small arms and light weapons are a major threat driving violent crimes and instability in Nigeria..
Nigeria’s National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW) on Friday destroyed more than 2,800 illicit firearms in Abuja.
The centre said the move is aimed at curbing violent crime and strengthening national security.
The exercise, the fifth of its kind, reportedly underscores efforts by the federal government to combat the proliferation of illegal weapons linked to terrorism and insecurity.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the spread of illicit small arms and light weapons as a major threat driving violent crimes and instability across the country.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Hillary Mabeokwu, Director of Defence Affairs at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ribadu said the government remained committed to tackling the complex challenge of controlling the flow of illegal firearms.
He noted that the NCCSLAW, established in 2021, provides an institutional framework to address arms proliferation in line with international protocols, including the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Ribadu also welcomed the enactment of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a landmark step towards eliminating illicit arms.
“This Act provides the legal foundation for the centre to discharge its mandate more robustly and effectively,” he said.
Director-General of NCCSLAW, retired Deputy Inspector-General Johnson Kokumo, said the destruction exercise demonstrated the centre’s commitment to promoting peace and regional security.
He disclosed that more than 16,000 illicit, obsolete and decommissioned weapons had been destroyed since the centre’s inception, including the 2,800 firearms destroyed during Friday’s exercise.
The weapons, including locally fabricated arms, were recovered from police commands nationwide as well as from the military and other security agencies, he said.
Kokumo added that the exercise aligns with international standards such as the ECOWAS Convention and the United Nations Programme of Action on small arms control.
He urged citizens to support security agencies with timely information, stressing that public cooperation was vital to ensuring peace and security.
The event was attended by senior security officials, representatives of service chiefs, government agencies, ECOWAS delegates, civil society groups and members of the press.
