Police begin recovery of firearms in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police command has commenced a special operation aimed at mopping up, seizure, and recovery of illegal firearms in the state.

The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, said on Friday that all illegal firearms and ammunition, weapons locally fabricated or modified from unauthorized persons that can cause death or injury of persons across the state would be mopped up.

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“This is sequel to the proliferation of firearms among many groups, including vigilantes, militia and all other groups.

“It is important to remind the general public that: “Part II (3) of the schedule of the Firearms Act L.N32 of 1959 prohibited the possession of firearms mentioned in Part 1 of Firearms Act except for I accordance with a license granted by Mr. President.

“To this end, the state commissioner of police, Usman Nagogo, has set up a Police Joint Task Enforcement Team headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations with a mandate to commence the mop-up, seizure and recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition.

“The operation will equally include cordon, search and raid, seizure from any premises, hideouts, dwelling houses or buildings or sites (completed or under construction) or any other location where these illegal/prohibited firearms are kept or on reasonable suspicion are believed to be kept,” he said.

He said the state commissioner of police warned members of the general public, individuals and groups such as vigilantes, town unions, hunters and night guards or any group or association under any capacity or guise not to carry arms without license.

“Those in possession of such firearms are given seven days from today, 13th August 2020 to surrender them to the Task Force team or any nearest police station they are domiciled.

“Area Commanders and DPOs are under strict instruction by the Commissioner of Police to carry out and enforce this Act in totality in their respective areas of responsibility.

“They were also directed to convey security stakeholders meeting immediately to sensitize and educate the members of the general public on this development,” Shehu added.