President of the West African Action Network against small arms (WAANSA Nigeria), Mr. Jephtah Asiomole, has called for international support for Nigeria in any capacity that will help eradicate the menace of gun violence in West Africa and Nigeria in particular. Asiomole spoke when he represented West Africa at the recent United Nations review conference on the implementation of policies to prevent combat and eradicate the illicit trade and domestication of international treaties and to consolidate the tactics meant to eliminate this global surge.

The WAANSA Nigeria President pointed to the violence in Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa states and the insurgency in the North-East, noting: “It is now clear that a lot of small arms are in the hands of non-state actors in Nigeria hence there is no better time than now that Nigeria needs international support to secure our country.”

“Nigerian account for millions of unemployed youth whom out of hopelessness and frustration engage themselves in social vices involving small arms and light weapons as 2019 is around the corner WAANSA president called for support for peaceful election going by the role Nigeria plays in the sub-region,” Asiomole said during the conference held in New York, USA.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, all the service chiefs, the National Security Adviser, as well as Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris for their commitment towards the eradication of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.