Weapons Centre Says NATFORCE Remains Illegal

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW),yesterday, denied reports that it was linked with the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE).

A statement by the office of the National Coordinator NCCSALW and signed by Group Captain Ewejide Akintunde, said NATFORCE remained illegal.

The statement condemned the claims and insinuations that NATFORCE was linked to the NCCSALW an offshoot, contained in an opinion piece by one Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Goni, which was contained in some recent reports.

The publications had posited that NATFORCE was the most desirable body that could be deployed to augument security agencies in tackling growing security lapses and civil strife as well as a source of meaningful employment for the teeming youths, who were roaming the streets without any means of livelihood.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the information on NATFORCE’s relationship with NCCSALW circulating on social media and in some national dailies is not only false but malicious and intended to portray its affiliation with the NCCSALW in order to justify its deceitful recruitment drive.

“The NCCSALW wishes to affirm for the records, that it has no connection with NATFORCE or any of its activities as conveyed by the publication.

“Also, the centre has not engaged NATFORCE or any individual or recruitment agents to recruit on its behalf. NATFORCE’s attempt to portray itself having any connection with NCCSALW is absolutely inept, inappropriate and deeply abhorrent,” it said.

The centre, therefore, called on the general public to be wary of some misguided elements whose intention was to misinform the citizens for reasons best known to them.