The Nigeria Police Force has arrested exactly 297 suspects for illegal possession of firearms and recovered at least 520 calibres of firearms, and 4,023 ammunition since the new IGP Egbetokun resumed.
Egbetokun made this known on Tuesday during a meeting with members of the Police Management Team including Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, and Commissioners of Police at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The police boss also noted that the NPF would partner the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies to secure the borders against insurgents, especially considering the political situation in Niger Republic following the military coup.
“The police also arrested 986 armed robbery suspects, 377 kidnap suspects, 848 suspects of homicide, 517 suspects of rape and defilement, 874 suspected cultists and 5,281 other suspects for various other offences.
“Also, a total of 353 kidnap victims have been rescued, and reunited with their families,” the IG said.
“We are mopping up arms in circulation. There are too many arms in circulation and if we continue to issue licences on arms, we may continue to aggravate the problems we are trying to solve.
“For now, there is a temporary ban on the issuance of firearms. We may review it later, but we are not issuing firearms licences nationwide now,” Egbetokun said on Tuesday.
The IG, however, noted that the ban might be reviewed in the future.
