The Federal Government, along with Nigerian Police Force and other security operatives don’t provide support for the Task Force when addressing the proliferation of arms in the country, according to the Director General, National Task force on Illegal Importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms, Osita Okereke.
“Our problem with us in this country is that our security operatives are compromised, security operatives in Nigeria have to be fair with Nigerians. 80 percent of security operatives in Nigeria are compromised because all these hoodlums are their friends,” he stated.
Speaking on the subject of the perceived non-performance of his task force, Mr. Okereke made a promise to step down in six months’ time if the requisite support is given to his Task Force, but no proportional change is witnessed.
A discontented Mr. Okereke disclosed that his Task Force possesses a lot of information about where and how illegal arms could be recovered… But, he noted, the Police has denied them any support.
The Director General said he has been untiringly approaching the Inspector General of Police (IGP) asking to provide him and his Task Force with police officers to help in discovering these arms, but the attempts have been futile.
“You cannot arrest someone with arms without arms,” he lamented.
The recent Committee on the proliferation of arms, set up by the Federal Government, was described by him as a ‘novice committee’ — because “it is a committee that knows nothing about arms and the importation of arms.”
Mr. Okereke condemned the constitution of this committee without the inclusion of his organisation.
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