ECOWAS warns against diversion of legal arms

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…As NCCSALW destroys 17,000 decommissioned weapons, 20,000 ammunition

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By Davies Iheamnachor

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PORT HARCOURT — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged member states to remain vigilant against the diversion of lawfully acquired weapons and ammunition for illicit purposes.

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The Acting Head, Small Arms Division, ECOWAS, Mr Abayomi Adeomi, gave the warning during a five-day training on physical security, stockpile management and property management for national security in Nigeria, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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The training, organised by the ECOWAS Small Arms Division in collaboration with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, brought together personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, Air Force, Navy and other paramilitary agencies.

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Adeomi appreciated the Federal Government, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) and the Rivers State Government for their support in hosting the programme.

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He said the collaboration had helped translate ECOWAS’ regional commitments into practical capacity-building initiatives across member states.

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According to him, the training was coming at a time the West African region continued to face interconnected security challenges, stressing that efforts to curb arms proliferation should focus not only on illegal arms trafficking but also on diversion from authorised stockpiles.

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He said: “While most attention is often paid to weapons trafficked across borders, we must equally remain vigilant about the diversion of weapons from lawful authorised stockpiles of member states.

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“Comprehensive and effective stockpile management is therefore not just a mere technical administrative function.

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“Accurate inventory, discipline in the control of national stockpiles, routine inspections, safe handling procedures, competent and trained personnel, and timely destruction of surplus and decommissioned weapons together form a vital barrier against diversion, theft, loss and accidental explosions.”

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Meanwhile, the South-South Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, Mr Alex Inemo Ebimiebo, said the centre had destroyed more than 17,000 unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons as well as over 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunition since its establishment.

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Ebimiebo, who represented the Director-General of the centre, Johnson Kokumo, said the Federal Government established the NCCSALW in 2021 to provide a more permanent institutional framework for tackling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

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He said the centre had continued to prioritise capacity building for the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies, particularly in weapons and ammunition management, physical security, stockpile management, marking and tracking, record keeping and measures to prevent loss and diversion.

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According to him, proper documentation and destruction of decommissioned arms and ammunition would help prevent such weapons from returning to circulation.

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“Proper documentation and destruction permanently remove such material from circulation, reduce the risk of diversion and reinforce public confidence in the national arms control measures,” he said.

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Ebimiebo added that the activities formed part of the centre’s broader efforts to disrupt the illicit life cycle of weapons and ammunition.

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Also speaking, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General E.I. Okoro, said poor stockpile management could increase the risk of theft, diversion, unauthorised access and accidental explosions, with potentially serious consequences.

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Okoro, who was represented by the Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Joint Task Force, South-South, Brigadier-General A.A. Bello, said the training had brought together 20 participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

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He stressed the importance of strengthening physical security and stockpile management to minimise the risks associated with the storage and handling of weapons and ammunition.

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