The Nigerian Police Force has reported the recovery of 9,657 assorted guns and firearms and 26,994 bullets, the fruits of its efforts to reduce the prohibited weapons in the hands of militiamen, bandits, herdsmen and vigilante groups in the country.

The police gave the update today in a statement by Acting Deputy commissioner Jimoh Moshood.

Moshood said the prohibited firearms recovered included artillery, apparatus for the discharge of any explosives of gas diffusing projectile, Rocket weapons, bombs and grenades, Machine-Guns and Machine-Pistols, Military rifles, namely; those of calibers 7.62mm, 9mm, .300 inches.

Others were Revolvers and Pistols whether rifled or unrifled (including flint-lock pistols and cap pistols, Pump action guns of all categories and other guns locally made to kill.

The police said the firearms recovery, still ongoing, is aimed at the full enforcement of the Firearms Act.

“Mopping-up and recovery of all prohibited firearms and illegally acquired weapons and will enable the Nigeria Police Force deal decisively with Herders/Farmers Clashes, Kidnappings, Armed Robbery, Cattle Rustling, Militancy and Terrorism”, the police spokesman said.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on 21 February, 2018 had directed the Commissioners of Police of all the State Commands of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and their Supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police of the Twelve Zonal Commands in the Country, and the Force Headquarters Joint Task Enforcement Team to mop up the prohibited firearms and ammunition and weapons.

After the expiration of the grace period of 21 days, the police swung into actions and embarked on Mop-up, Seizure and Recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition in wrong hands, suspected Militias, Militants, Criminal/Unlawful Gangs through search, raid and seizure from identified premises, hideouts, dwelling houses, buildings and sites where these illegal/prohibited firearms were kept based on reasonable suspicion and intelligence. (NAN)

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