Police give one-week ultimatum to illegal firearms holders

The Nigeria Police Force has given one-week ultimatum to illegal firearms holders to surrender their weapons.

This followed proliferation of arms

The police said it had perfected plans to embark on a massive nationwide joint arms mopping up operations.

The order, according to a source in the Force, is not unconnected with the forthcoming general election.

A statement from Force spokesman Assistant Commissioner of Police Frank Mba said the police chief had placed an embargo on the issuance of new licences for arms.

The statement reads: “Consequent upon intelligence indicating the presence of huge quantity of arms in unlawful possession of some Nigerians, the desperation of some citizens to acquire more arms, and the continued proliferation of illicit weapons in the polity, with the attendant negative and security implications, Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has called on Nigerians currently in unlawful possession of such weapons to immediately ensure a voluntary return of the weapons to police stations or public armoury nearest to them.

“The IGP has also, with immediate effect, placed an embargo on the issuance of new licences for designated arms throughout the country.”

The IGP, while advising Nigerians to take advantage of the voluntary arms return window, added that there would be dire consequences for defaulters and those who failed to heed the call.

On the nationwide raid, the police said: “The operation, which will be intelligent driven and target oriented, is designed to retrieve all illicit weapons in circulation, halt the ongoing proliferation of weapons, restore law and order and bring perpetrators to justice.”