National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, says active participation of the traditional institution will help eradicate the menace of small arms and light weapons in the Northeastern Nigeria devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The North East Zonal Coordinator Rear Admiral Abdulrahim Mohammed retd, stated this when he paid homage to the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi at his Palace in Maiduguri.
Rear Admiral Abdulrahim Mohammed explained that the centre had embarked on national assignment of eradicating small arms and light weapons from the hands of non-state actors and terrorists.
He described the traditional institution as a critical stakeholder in the campaign as they were the custodian of culture and vanguards of promoting peace and violence free society.
“The Centre will be interacting with the traditional institution in the area of advocacy periodically and also acknowledge the support of the Emirate that has led to successes recorded in the fight against insurgency, ” Admiral Mohammed said.
In a remark, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi commended the Federal government for establishing the Centre, noting that siting the Zonal center in Maiduguri wouldl address the menace in the region.
He reiterated that the removal of small arms and light weapons in the hands of terrorist and non-state actors would deepen and sustain the peace achieved so far.
The Shehu promised to give the Centre all the necessary support to enable it to achieve its mandate.
Cov/Dauda
