Group urges action on hawking of knives, cutlasses

As part of measures to improve on the security of the country, a group, Equilibrium Initiative, has urged authorities to regulate hawking of cutlasses, knives, bows and arrows.

The Executive Director of the initiative, Senator Philip Gyunka, expressed concern that the proliferation of such weapons was responsible for the heightening insecurity in the country and therefore called for the setting up of a market for the selling of such weapons.

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Sen Gyunka said, “The sales of weapons such as machetes, knifes, bows and arrows on our streets in the public glare of security personnel is not only worrisome but monstrously destructive.

“This is sequel to the fact that these weapons are often used to unleash terror on unsuspecting communities in a coordinated orchestration of carnage that often leave in their trail bloodshed and the stygian gloom of war.”

He noted that the Firearms Act 1959 LN prohibited the sales of arms and ammunition, including light weapons such as knives and matchetes, except for agricultural use with proper licensing.

He futher said, “However, due to poor enforcement by security agencies such as the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and customs, these dangerous weapons are being sold on our streets.

“Equilibrium Initiative is hereby calling on relevant security agencies to commence arrest and prosecution of those found selling, buying or carrying these dangerous weapons, particularly on the highways, and to ensure proper licensing for those who need them for agricultural use as they often find their way into unscrupulous hands who might deploy them for criminality.”