By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The Zonal Director of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), North Central Zone, Abdul Adamu Eneche, has called for stronger cooperation and intelligence sharing among security agencies to combat illicit arms trafficking in Nigeria.

Eneche made the call in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the formal handover of recovered firearms and ammunition by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nasarawa State Command, to the Centre.

He commended the NDLEA for recovering the weapons, describing the operation as a significant contribution to national security.

The Zonal Director emphasised that sustained collaboration among security agencies was critical to dismantling networks involved in illegal arms trafficking, urging stakeholders and members of the public to support efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Eneche assured that the recovered weapons and ammunition would be properly documented and securely stored before their eventual destruction in accordance with established international arms-control procedures and best practices.

The Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Nasarawa State Command, CN Daniel Saidu, said the weapons and ammunition were recovered during raid operations and stop-and-search exercises across the state.

Saidu explained that although the agency’s primary responsibility was to combat drug-related offences, its operatives also recover illicit firearms encountered during operations and hand them over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling drug and arms trafficking, stressing that the seizures reflected its zero-tolerance policy towards criminal activities.

The recovered items comprise four locally fabricated pistols, one locally made revolver pistol, one locally made single-barrel cartridge pistol, 13 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and eight rounds of live cartridge ammunition.

The handover is in line with Section 35(1) and (2) of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, 2024, which provides for the transfer of recovered, seized or surrendered illicit small arms and light weapons by security agencies to the Centre for documentation, safe storage and eventual destruction.

Officials of both agencies jointly inspected and verified the recovered items following the handover.

The weapons were subsequently transported from Lafia to Minna, Niger State, under armed escort by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and secured at the DSS Niger State Command pending further directives.

By Our Correspondent

Horro !!!, As an Anambra State based couple Chisom Chukwunyere, and husband, Chukwudi, have allegedly conspired to unlawfully cause grievous harm to an 11-year-old house help, Chiziterem Frank Ozuruigbo, and pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge brought against them by the Anambra State Government.

Chisom residing at No. 23 Obinna-James Street, Odume, Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state was said to have assaulted the child to stupor, inflicting injuries on him with weapons ranging from thermally liquified plastic to his body, knife, etc before he was seen by passers-by along the road with body stricken with scars as well as his head.

According to the conspiracy charge brought against the couple, the first defendant, Chisom, in furtherance of the said common purpose, repeatedly assaulted and burnt the said child with thermally liquefied plastic, while the second defendant, Chukwudi, knowing of the injuries inflicted on the child by the wife, failed to secure appropriate medical treatment for him, and kept him away from school while the injuries healed.

In count two of the charges brought against the couple, they were accused of unlawfully causing grievous harm to Chiziterem by repeatedly beating him and applying thermally liquified plastic to his body, thereby causing him severe burn injuries and other serious bodily injuries.

In count three, the woman is separately accused of unlawfully attempting to kill the 11-year-old child in her care, allegedly conspired to unlawfully cause grievous harm to an 11-year-old child who was in their care.

Similarly, the husband, Chiziterem Frank Ozuruigbo, have also pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge brought against them by the Anambra State Government.,

In counts four and five, the woman was also separately accused of offensive conduct against Chiziterem, and willfully and knowingly placing the minor in fear of physical injury.

After the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 5-count charge, Counsels for the defendants informed the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka presided over by Justice Peace Otti that their clients will be going for plea bargain, which the prosecution team did not oppose.

The state prosecution team include, Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, Amara Muojeke and others, while Chief Ugo Ugwunnadi and C.C Udeaja, appeared for the first and second defendant respectively.

By Our Correspondent

Sequel to the gruesome murder of an All Progressives Congress (APC) member in Ibadan by Allied People’s Movement (APM) hoodlums, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has called on elders across the state to warn Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, against foisting violence on the people of Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement by the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele, the SSACO expressed surprise that Makinde and Adekanmbi have adopted bloodshed as their new campaign method, but insisted that their ambition is not worth the life of any individual living anywhere in Oyo State.

The organisation chronicled attacks and killings of opposition members in the state in the last two weeks, and warned that senseless killings and brigandage must not take over Oyo State in Governor Makinde’s desperation to force his lackey, Hon. Adekanmbi, on the good people of the state in 2027.

The statement read: “The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) was gripped with horror as an APC member in Ward 6, Ibadan South West Local Government, Ridwan, popularly known with the nickname Paul Moor, was machetted to death by APM hoodlums on Friday. The young man was gruesomely murdered for defecting from APM to APC, only 24 hours to his 35th birthday.

“This is the latest in the series of attacks on opposition figures in the last two weeks. Senator Alli’s wife, Alhaja Tawakalit Alli, was attacked during a peaceful free health programme she organised last week. The APC candidate for Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, was also attacked during a peaceful campaign on the same day. The campaign train of Hon. Remi Oseni, the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, was also attacked on the same day.

“Similarly, the campaign team of Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, Accord Party’s governorship candidate, was attacked at Molete, Ibadan, during a peaceful campaign.

“These ugly attacks and killing of opposition members in Oyo State are anti-democratic, senseless and unacceptable. The rights of Nigerians to freedom of association and speech are guaranteed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and remain sacred. Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi must always remember this fact. The state must not descend to bloodshed by their directive.

“The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation wishes to remind Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi that Oyo State belongs to all citizens and residents, not just APM members. It is important for the two leaders to tame their fear of losing in the forthcoming election which is responsible for these senseless attacks. We urge them to have a rethink and prevail on their members to desist from the heinous crimes they are committing.

“For emphasis, the people of Oyo State are tired of the Makinde administration, and they have already embraced Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who will run a people-centred governance instead of continuation of a government of deceit. We call on elders across Oyo State to call Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi to oder.

“We call on the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and other security agencies to fish out these murderers and bring them to justice. Oyo State people deserve a peaceful campaign. And Senator Alli will sustain his issue-based campaign throughout this period. We urge the APM to take a cue from us.”