AFRICA/NIGERIA - National Task Force to combat spread of illegal weapons

Abuja (Agenzia Fides)- According to the United Nations Organisation about eight million illegal weapons circulate in West Africa, a consistent percentage of these in Nigeria. This was affirmed by Gen. Aliyu Gusau, National Security advisor to the Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan. “These light arms represent a serious threat to security” the General said.
The National Security advisor said the proliferation of illegal weapons, feeds violent conflicts as demonstrated by events in the Niger Delta and the spread of religious violence caused by sects such as Boko Haram, which in 2009 caused serious incidents in the city of Maiduguri, in north-east Nigeria (see Fides 17/9/2009).
General Gusau recently presided a ceremony to activate a National Task Force charged with combating illegal importation of weapons and black marketing of arms, light arms and ammunition.
The National Security advisor said “ we have known for some time that certain West African countries are deposits of weapons destined for the whole region. Arms of Soviet source are stocked in Guinea Bissau. The River Mano basin was once a weapons deposit. Gabon and Cameroon purchase these weapons from eastern Europe and Asia”.
"Weapons from these countries were transferred to the Niger Delta area . The weapons include semiautomatic rifles, pump action guns, machine guns and portable rocket launchers" said General Gusau.
Once in Nigeria the weapons have been used in community clashes, for armed robberies and kidnappings. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2010)