The South West Zonal Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Ben Akinlade DIS (Rtd) has warned all unauthorised arms control outfits across the country to desist from exploiting unsuspecting members of the public.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti ,Akinlade decried the unewholesome activities of some approved outfits adding that his centre had been inundated with barrage of complaints from the victims .
He therefore cautioned Nigerians against the use of illicit small arms and light weapons stressing it is against the law .
According to him, some unauthorized outfits are parading themselves as major organizations responsible for the control of illicit arms and creating false impression of legitimacy.
“The Centre remains the only government sanctioned body charged with the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria, and it is crucial to note that any infringement on the duties of the Centre will attract legal sanctions.
“National Centre has received some illicit arms from the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army and some of them have since been destroyed.
“The South West Zonal Office since its inception had engaged relevant stakeholders across the Zone through sensitization, advocacy programs, sharing of intelligence with security agencies which led to various operational successes, facilitated the movement and destruction of seized Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Akinlade noted that these unauthorized organization also defraud people seeking employment, particularly graduates.
“Members of the public are therefore cautioned to be wary of these illegal organizations who are already defrauding unsuspecting youths by asking them to pay money for offer of employment”. He said