Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi has insisted it is illegal to own a gun in Nigeria, condemning the practice of backdating firearms licenses.
In August 2023, the police stopped issuing licenses for small arms due to the high rate of illegal arms proliferation in the country.
Speaking on Thursday at a joint briefing of the strategic communications and inter-agency policy committee organised by the office of the national security adviser, Adejobi warned that ownership of prohibited firearms is punishable under the law.
He said, “For those who are working 24 hours to bring in arms to Nigeria, it is a criminal offence. Any prohibited arms found in your possession can take you to prison. You don’t need to even struggle to get any of these arms. It’s a criminal offence and we don’t encourage anyone to have one. For now, we have banned the use of arms and ammunition in Nigeria.
“If you want to get your arms, you need to wait until the government will lift the ban. Prohibited firearms or whatever you want to call it. Don’t be deceived. Certain individuals will go and backdate licenses to give you, but it’s still fake.
“So, I want to appeal to Nigerians, don’t be deceived. Most of those agents who are arms dealers, many of them are funny and they can be so dubious.
“Don’t allow anybody to lead you into committing criminal offences, particularly when it comes to the issue of arms. We are going to take it more seriously, and we are going to go after those who own arms illegally. It’s an offence, and it remains offensive and punishable under the law.”
