Sokoto Governor condemns the proliferation of small arms in the country

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has expressed dissatisfaction over the proliferation of small and light weapons in the country. The governor said there are more small and light weapons in the hands of non-actors across the country than there are in the hands of security operatives.

He urged the National Assembly (NASS) to produce legislation that would prescribe death sentence or life imprisonment for unlawful possession of arms in the country.

Mr Tambuwal made this call in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello.

The statement said Mr Tambuwal was talking to students and youth in an interactive session on security matters in Sokoto State on Saturday.

“I am therefore appealing to NASS and the Presidency to come up with a legislation that will proscribe disarmament in the country.

“Those in possession of unlicenced arms should go and register them and if the arms cannot be licensed, they should be surrendered to government and the government will pay them,” he said.

He, however, said they should be given a grace period, after the grace period, those who did not comply, if caught, should be given a maximum punishment.

The Governor  also suggested robust recruitment and equipping of security agencies, especially, the police, in order to ensure the protection of the citizens.

He urged stakeholders to improve remuneration and life insurance policy for security operatives in the country.

Mr Tambuwal commended the federal government for establishing the Police Trust Fund, which would go a long way in addressing their challenges.

On the activities of bandits in some parts of Sokoto, the governor said arrangements are in top gear to establish a state vigilante group which could be deployed to troubled areas.

He explained that the group would operate within the ambit of the law and in conjunction with the security agencies, so that “they will not take laws into their hands”.

He recalled that the recent reprisal attacks in which the bandits killed dozens was triggered by the activities of vigilante in some of the areas attacked.