By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna <\/p>\n
In its ongoing sensitization and advocacy programme for Corps members across the North Central states, the North Central Zonal headquarters of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has taken the advocacy and sensitization for Corps members at the NYSC Batch \u201cA\u201d Stream 2 Orientation Camp in Keffi Nasarawa state.<\/p>\n
. The programme, led by ACP Adamu Usman Abini, Zonal Assistant Director Operations, was organized to raise awareness on the dangers associated with the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) and to educate Corps Members on their critical role in prevention, peacebuilding, and community security.<\/p>\n
A total of 2,600 Corps Members drawn from Nasarawa state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), attended the sensitization programme with the full presence of key officials of the Centre and the Camp Commandant,Capt. S.J Galadima, and the head of Lectures,Mr Ubah Chimeze.and the Camp Director Mr Osheshi Muhammed.<\/p>\n
Addressing the Participants at the event, the Assistant Zonal Director of the Centre,ACP Adamu Usman Abini highlighted participants with an overview of the establishment,mandate,objectives,and core functions of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.<\/p>\n
Explaining that the Centre was established to prevent and control the proliferation of illicit SALWs through strategic collaboration with security agencies, relevant stakeholders, and members of the public, including Corps Members.<\/p>\n
He further enlightened participants on the distinction between Small Arms and Light Weapons, noting that Small Arms are weapons operated by a single individual, such as pistols, rifles, and AK-47 rifles, while Light Weapons require operation by a small group and include machine guns and grenade launchers.<\/p>\n
According to the ACP, the portability, ease of concealment, and widespread use of these weapons in criminal activities and armed conflicts make them a major threat to national security and public safety.<\/p>\n
ACP Abini emphasized that the uncontrolled spread of SALWs has contributed significantly to insecurity across the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, and ethnic violence. <\/p>\n
He identified illegal arms smuggling, theft from security agencies, illicit local production, and persistent conflicts as major drivers of weapons proliferation. He warned that the continued circulation of illicit weapons undermines national unity, weakens sustainable development efforts, and exposes young people to recruitment by violent groups.<\/p>\n
Addressing the Corps Members directly, the presenter stressed that youths occupy a strategic position in society and can either become vulnerable to manipulation by violent actors or emerge as agents of peace and positive change. <\/p>\n
He encouraged Corps Members to actively sensitize members of their host communities on the dangers of illegal arms possession and to support security efforts by reporting suspicious activities or movements through appropriate channels without exposing themselves to danger.<\/p>\n
He also advised Corps Members to promote peaceful coexistence in their communities, avoid involvement in violence or communal conflicts, and refrain from handling or attempting to recover weapons under any circumstance.<\/p>\n
Instead, they were urged to work closely with security agencies and NYSC Local Government Inspectors in support of national peace and security initiatives. ACP Abini further called on them to serve as ambassadors of peace in their various Places of Primary Assignment (PPAs) by discouraging violence and encouraging lawful conduct within their communities.<\/p>\n
It was observed that the lecture session was highly interactive, with Corps Members demonstrating keen interest and active participation throughout the programme. <\/p>\n
During the question-and-answer session, some participants expressed concerns over their safety in the event of giving out critical information. <\/p>\n
Responding to a question ACP Usman Abini stated that the Centre operates strictly on the principle of source protection . <\/p>\n
This means that the identity of all informants are absolutely protected from exposure. Participants also recommended the establishment and publicization of a secure online platform through which citizens could anonymously provide information to the Centre without fear of exposure. <\/p>\n
To encourage sustained collaboration and intelligence sharing, handbills and flyers containing the Centre\u2019s contact information were distributed to all participants at the end of the programme.<\/p>\n
The sensitization programme concluded with a collective acknowledgment that although the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons remains a major security challenge, coordinated efforts among stakeholders, government agencies, communities, and responsible citizens can significantly reduce the threat. Corps Members were particularly recognized as important partners in grassroots peacebuilding, public enlightenment, and the promotion of national security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna In its ongoing sensitization and advocacy programme for Corps members across the North Central states, the North Central Zonal headquarters of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has taken the advocacy and sensitization for Corps members at the NYSC Batch \u201cA\u201d Stream 2 Orientation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13511"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13513,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13511\/revisions\/13513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}