The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, South-South Zone, has commenced moves to destroy arms and ammunition surrendered by 80 repentant militants in Cross River State.
The Zonal Director of NCCSALW, Mr Alex Inemah Ebimiebo, disclosed this in Calabar after formally receiving the cache from the Office of the State Security Adviser.
Ebimiebo said the Centre had begun the statutory procedures required for the destruction and disposal of the weapons, in line with national regulations on arms control.
The arms were recovered following a disarmament exercise conducted by the Cross River State Government among former militants operating in the creeks of Calabar and Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
Commending the initiative, the NCCSALW zonal director urged Governor Bassey Edet Otu to sustain the administration’s priority attention to security, particularly efforts aimed at curbing the proliferation of illicit arms.
He described the disarmament as a reflection of the effectiveness of the state’s peace-building strategies and collaborative security framework, noting that Cross River continues to rank among the safest and most peaceful states in the country.
Ebimiebo also praised the State Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), for what he described as strategic leadership and strong inter-agency collaboration that has delivered tangible security gains.
The weapons were surrendered under Operation OKWOK at the Atimbo Rear Area, during an exercise coordinated by the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the state government.
The militants, drawn from two camps, voluntarily embraced the state’s amnesty programme.
Items recovered included rifles, guns, ammunition, explosives, speedboats and other military hardware.
Representing the State Security Adviser, Inspector Adoga David assured that the Otu administration would remain committed to safeguarding lives and property through sustained support for security agencies and prompt responses to emerging threats.
Arms control centre moves to destroy recovered weapons in Calabar
