Police IG, Mohammed Adamu calls for voluntary surrender of weapons and places embargo on the issuance of new arm licences

The Inspector General of Police, Ag IGP Mohammed Adamu has called on all Nigerians currently in unlawful possession of such weapons to immediately ensure a voluntary return of the weapons to Police Station or Public Armoury nearest to them.

His directive is based on intelligence indicating the presence of huge quantity of arms in unlawful possession of some Nigerians owing to the desperation of some citizens to acquire more arms, and the continued proliferation of illicit weapons in the polity, with the attendant negative and security implications.

In a statement signed by the force PRO, Frank Mba, 'the Inspector General of Police has also, with immediate effect, placed an embargo on the issuance of New Licences for designated arms throughout the country'.

The IGP advises Nigerians to take advantage of the "voluntary arms return window" and do the right thing as there will be dire consequences for defaulters and those who fail to heed the call.

Meanwhile, the Force has perfected plans to embark on a massive, nationwide Joint Arms Mopping up Operations. The operation which will be intelligent driven and target oriented, is designed to retrieve all illicit weapons in circulation, halt the on-going proliferation of weapons, restore law and order and bring perpetrators to justice.