By Agnes Afolabi
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, has alerted the public on the activities of unauthorized organizations impersonating it and duping unsuspecting individuals.
Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the South West Zonal Coordinator of the Centre, Mr. Ben Sola Akinlade urged members of the public to be wary of such illegal organizations and report their activities to them.
According to Mr. Akinlade, the report from victims of the illegal organizations necessitated the press conference so as to create awareness to the public so as not to fall victim to the impersonators.
He said, “It has been observed recently that some unscrupulous and unauthorized outfits have emerged deceitfully presenting themselves as the focal organizations for the control of illicit small arms and light weapons, creating a false impression of the legitimacy and authority of the National Centre.
“The action of these unauthorized bodies have the propensity to further compound the already complex task of small arms and light weapons control and may potentially result in confusion and a lack of credibility leading to administrative and legal disputes, which may hinder the Centre from effectively carrying out its mandate.
“They have gone to the extent of collecting money from members of the public seeking employment from them. All stakeholders and partners in the war against illicit weapons are hereby reminded of the enormity of the Centre’s mandate and the necessity to operate within legal boundaries.”
“Moreso , revealing the legitimate responsibility of the Centre, Mr Akinlade asserted that, the Centre remains the only recognized body by the Government saddled with the responsibility of censoring the issuance of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
“The Centre remains the only government sanctioned body charged with the responsibility to checkmate the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. It is crucial to note that any infringement on the duties of the Centre will attract legal sanctions,” he revealed.
Also, disclosing measures that have been put in place to counter this act, the Coordinator revealed that the Centre had collaborated crime agencies and some stakeholders to apprehend the culprits.
He said, “The Centre has Sustained collaboration and synergy with other stakeholders and relevant Security Agencies in identifying, profiling, arrest and prosecution of arms traffickers within the Zone. This has gone a long way in reducing the menace of the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the South West Zone and the country at large.
“The stakeholders especially the Media are enjoined to uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics to prevent the projection of unlawful organizations as the Center remains the only government-sanctioned body charged with the responsibility to checkmate the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light.”
In addition, Mr. Akinlade frowned at the increasing rate of minors and the youths indulgence in criminal activities in the state, pegging blames on Parents who have failed to monitor their children, hence, imploring them to pay cognizance attention to the actions and inactions of their children to counter the menace.