From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri 

The National Center for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has solicited for the synergy of the Theatre Command of the Counter-insurgency Operation in the northeast to step-up retrieving of small arms in the area.

NCCSALW Team Leader, Rear Admiral Mohammed (retd) said the northeast office of the agency visit was aimed at establishiing relationship with the Theatre in the pursuit of its mandate to retrieve all illegal small arms and light weapons scattered all over the country.

Mohammed said the wanton destruction of lives and property experienced in the 13 years of insurgency in the northeast, was possible because of the proliferation of illicit weapons.

“We need the cooperation ans synergy of the theatre command to address this problem and retrieve illegal arms” he said.

Theatre Commander Joint Task Force (JTF) Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj Gen Christopher Musa, welcomed the request for synergy.

He said the theatre is always willing to work with the agency to achieve the task of retrieving and controlling proliferation of small and light weapons.

“It is in line with what we are doing in the theatre and this collaborations will help in promoting a free-weapon society where socio-political, human and national development thrive,” Gen Musa, said.