We Have Stopped Issuance of Licenses For Small Arms – Force Headquarters

Force headquarters says it has stopped the issuance of new licenses for small arms in the country.

Inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun who announced this on Tuesday, however, says the ban is temporary, and may be reviewed later.

Egbetokun was speaking to newsmen on the sideline of his meeting with assistant inspectors general of police and police commissioners at the force headquarters, Abuja.

He explained that issuance of more licenses for small arms would further aggravate the proliferation of illicit arms.

For now, the police chief said the force is mopping up illicit arms in circulation to reduce the level of criminality in the country.

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The IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, made the disclosure while responding to questions from newsmen during his meeting with AIG’s, Commissioners of Police at the headquarters, Abuja.

“We are mopping up arms in circulation. There are too many arms in circulation and if we continue to issue licenses on arms, we may continue to aggravate the problems we are trying to solve,” Egbetokun said.

“For now, there is temporary ban on issuance of firearms. We May review it later, but we are not issueing firearms licenses nationwide now.”

The Firearm Act has been responsible for the control of firearms in Nigeria for the past years.

The Act provides that no person shall have in his possession or under his control, any firearm or ammunition except such person has a license from the President or the Inspector General of Police.