The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has strengthened its alliance with the National Park Service (NPS) to combat banditry and the illegal flow of arms in Nigeria’s protected areas.
During a strategic visit to the NPS headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Centre’s Coordinator, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, emphasized the urgent need for collaboration.
“Our mission is to partner with you in identifying and neutralizing criminal elements. The unchecked proliferation of small arms is fueling insecurity, and our porous borders allow illegal weapons to flood the country,” Kokumo stated.
He acknowledged the crucial role played by the NPS in tackling crime and assured them of ongoing support in intelligence sharing and capacity building.
Conservator-General of the NPS, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the rising security challenges within Nigeria’s parks. He cited banditry, insurgency, illegal logging, poaching, and mining as major threats, adding that criminal loggers are now arming themselves with sophisticated weapons.
Goni called on the Centre to equip the NPS with modern surveillance tools, metal detectors, and advanced weaponry to enhance their operations.
He further urged a review of the National Park Act to bolster security measures, pledging the agency’s full cooperation in the fight against criminal activities within protected forest areas.
