The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has directed the immediate dismantling of illegal security outfits involved in “extorting and harassing” unsuspecting citizens in the name of controlling small arms proliferation.

ONSA also reaffirmed that the only outfit recognized by law and with the mandate as regards control of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria was the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLW).

It, however, cautioned the state governments, international organizations, the private sector, and all stakeholders, to be wary of any other organization(s) operating under any name or form.

ONSA’s head of strategic communications, Zakari Mijinyawa, announced this in a statement on Tuesday, May 28.

He said: “Over the past three years, law enforcement agencies have acted against individuals operating these illegal outfits. Some of these individuals have been arrested and are currently being prosecuted.

“Despite these efforts, some members of the public, including key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, have fallen victim to the fraudulent activities of NATFORCE, which has recently rebranded as NATCOM, despite clear directives to dismantle all illegal security outfits.

“We remind the public that NATFORCE and NATCOM are not part of Nigeria’s security architecture and have no affiliation with any official security agency. These outfits are not backed by federal law, lack the authority to recruit, and are not approved to operate as security organizations.

“To clarify, pursuant to Section 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Nigeria established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), which has been under the Office of the National Security Adviser since 3 May 2021.

“The NCCSALW is the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria, coordinating with all relevant stakeholders to implement the UN and ECOWAS Plans of Action on the control of small arms and light weapons. The current National Coordinator of the NCCSALW is DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd), appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 26 March 2024.

“We advise State Governments, international organizations, the private sector, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant about the activities of illegal security outfits operating under any name or form. We encourage close collaboration with the NCCSALW to address concerns around the proliferation of small arms and light weapons,” he added. (The Nation)

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