Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have handed over 220 illegal guns and weapons recovered from criminals to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The handing-over ceremony took place on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State.
Maj.-Gen. Folunsho Oyinlola, commander of OPSH, said the weapons were seized during successful military operations in troubled areas. He listed the recovered items as 84 den guns, 66 locally made revolver rifles, 27 AK-47 rifles, eight locally made AK-47s, one submachine gun, one automatic pistol, and several other locally made pistols and shotguns.
He also announced the recovery of over 1,900 rounds of different kinds of ammunition.
“These weapons were taken from criminal elements in the course of our operations,” Oyinlola said, adding that the move was part of efforts to end the illegal circulation of weapons.
“We appeal to the public to support government efforts so that we can have a safer society,” he added.
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The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms was set up by the Federal Government in 2021 to address the problem of illegal weapons across Nigeria.
Receiving the recovered arms on behalf of the centre, Director-General Johnson Babatunde thanked OPSH for its commitment.
He said, “Almost all security threats in Nigeria, terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry, are made worse by the availability of small arms. The more OPSH keeps removing guns from circulation, the safer the country becomes. I commend the operation for this great achievement.”
Babatunde also encouraged other security agencies to copy the example of Operation Safe Haven in taking away illegal weapons from criminals.
Maj-Gen Oyinlola urged his troops not to relent in their efforts, calling on them to stay professional and dedicated in the fight against insecurity.