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Illegal Firearms: Kwara hunters, vigilantes seek emir’s intervention

*We stand by our resolution-Police
Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
Hunters and Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Kwara State have called on the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibraheem Sulu Gambari to intervene in the seizure of firearms from them by the police.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ado Lawan, had ordered that vigilantes, Neighbourhood Watch, civil security outfits and night watchmen and others attached to any organisation, including public and private institutions in the state to surrender all illegal and prohibited firearms in their possessions to the police within the 21 days.
He said anyone found with any firearms after the expiration of the given days will be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.
This came on the heels of a directive by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris to Commissioners of Police in all the commands nationwide.
He directed that the commands should immediately commence the disarmament and recovery of prohibited firearms, ammunition and weapons owned by all suspected militias, bandits, vigilante groups, neighbourhood watch and other groups or individuals /bodies bearing prohibited, illegal, locally fabricated and modified weapons.
Speaking to Pilot Crime over the development in a telephone interview,  at the weekend, the state Chairman, VGN, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Seriki Danji who said the news came to them as a shock given their role in crime fighting, urged the monarch to step into the matter.
According to him, vigilantes and police work together in crime fighting, adding that the new police would endanger lives of non-government security operatives in their line of duty.
“Some vigilantes have their firearm licenced and those who don’t have use local pistol,” adding that the development may lead to increase in crime rate,” he added.
Seriki Danji disclosed that there will be a meeting of all vigilantes and hunters in the state today (Monday), noting that they are law abiding citizens who would not engage in activities that could cause breach of peace and security.
Also speaking on the matter, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi said the command stands by its resolve.
“Whether you are licensed or not, you must submit all the firearms to police headquarter within the given days.
“Everybody that is not statutorily permitted by law to bear arm; that is, not member of any of the Nigerian security agency should submit their guns with the licence.
“If everybody having firearm illegally should submit their gun,  there will be no armed robbers disturbing the peace of the people,” he submitted.
Okasanmi admitted that people have been cooperating and submitting their guns but said he could not give the actual number of guns recovered so far.”

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