From, Emmanuel Onwusoro, Ado-Ekiti
The South-West Zonal Coordinator, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Mr. Sola Akinlade, has harped on the need to reduce growing number of small arms and light weapons in the society.
Akinlade made the plea while speaking with journalists, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he also called for the cooperation of every stakeholder to achieve that objective.
The event was the remembrance of the International Day for the Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Arms, with theme “The Need For Public Participation In Arms-Free Society”.
He noted that what gives people the guts to commit crime is possession of guns or other lethal weapons, harping on the need to mop up or destroy such to ensure they don’t get back to the society through unpatriotic citizens.
“We seek collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to succeed in the fight against proliferation of small arms and light weapons. With the cooperation of all stakeholders, if the crime is not totally eradicated, it will be reduced to the barest minimum”.
He explained that the Centre has recovered a huge number of arms from from non-state actors, hence the need for media support in its advocacy and sensitization drive.
According to the Coordinator, the agency also interacts with different elements involved in the proliferation of the weapons to ensure their control.
March 5, every year is the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation awareness aimed at deepening the global public’s understanding on disarmament efforts towards enhancing peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflict.
