Operation Safe Haven hands over 130 recovered illicit arms to NCCSALW

The Commander of Operation Safe Haven, (OPSH) in charge of security in Plateau State, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar has handed over 130 recovered illicit arms to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW)

Speaking during the handing over, the Commander OPSH, Major General Abubakar who is also the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army stated that the illicit arms were recovered from criminal elements in the course of operation of security agencies under the OPSH.

Giving the breakdown, the Commander pointed out that of the 130 illicit arms, 29 were Dane guns, 53 fabricated revolver rifles, 14 AK-47 rifles, One G3 rifle, eight locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, nine Harris Burg pistols, 21 locally fabricated pistols, one English pistol and two locally fabricated SMG.

Others are 28 AK-47 magazines, three locally fabricated magazines, one RPG7 Tube, 1, 522 rounds of ammunition, 500 rounds of 9mm ammunition, six cartridges and four RPG7 rockets with chargers.

General Abubakar further mentioned that
the small arms and light weapons, including drugs, motorcycles, and vehicles were recovered through kinetic and non-kinetic means in the course of the troops’ operations, adding that kidnapped victims were also rescued during the process.

He added that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its determination to stop the senseless bloodletting and insecurity occasioned by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in circulation within our communities came up with a strategy of mopping up all illicit weapons.

“It was in this regard that the Federal Government approved the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons at all levels of the polity and to mainstream illicit small arms and light weapons eradication efforts.” He said

The commander added that OPSH had recorded tremendous successes in stemming the tide in circulation and by extension promoting an illicit arms-free society.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, North Central Zone of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Maj. Gen Hamza Ibrahim Bature said that this is the second time such recovered illicit arms and weapons were handed to the agency.

He expressed worries that many lives would have been wasted if the illicit arms were not recovered from these criminal elements.

Bature, who commended the efforts of operatives of OPSH in mopping up illegal weapons, solicited the cooperation of the society, including the media for the success of OPSH in information and intelligence gathering.