IGP Disu, NCCSALW Seal Structured Alliance to Tackle Illegal Arms, Strengthen Nigeria's Internal Security

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) have agreed to institutionalise their collaboration in a renewed effort to curb the proliferation of illicit firearms and reinforce Nigeria's internal security architecture. The agreement, reached during a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, marks a shift from occasional cooperation to a permanent, structured partnership aimed at combating arms trafficking and improving national security coordination.

Key Takeaways

• NPF and NCCSALW agreed to establish a permanent institutional partnership.

• The collaboration will focus on intelligence sharing, armoury security and combating illegal firearms.

• More than 10,000 illicit weapons have been destroyed since the NCCSALW was established.

• The partnership will strengthen civil disarmament efforts ahead of Nigeria's general elections.

• Both agencies pledged to improve training, accountability and operational coordination.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, received the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd.), alongside members of the Centre's executive management team at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on 15 July 2026.

The visit centred on transforming the existing working relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the NCCSALW into a structured and long-term institutional partnership capable of delivering sustained action against the proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons across Nigeria.

According to the police leadership, the new collaboration will provide a coordinated framework for intelligence gathering, operational planning, firearms accountability, armoury management and specialized training, all aimed at reducing security threats associated with illicit weapons.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation as Nigeria continues efforts to improve public safety, reduce violent crime and enhance national preparedness ahead of future electoral activities.

Key Quotes

According to NCCSALW Director-General DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd.), the Centre's mandate is rooted in the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which requires member states to establish institutions dedicated to preventing, combating and eliminating the illicit arms trade across West Africa.

According to Kokumo, the Centre has destroyed more than 10,000 illicit weapons since its establishment, including a substantial number recovered through operations conducted by the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reducing illegal firearms in circulation directly improves the safety of police personnel operating across the country.

According to the IGP, immediate areas of collaboration will include:

• Real-time intelligence sharing on arms trafficking routes and criminal syndicates.

• Stronger accountability measures and periodic audits of police armouries.

• Coordinated operations against illegal local arms manufacturers and blacksmiths.

• Expanded training programmes for police armourers.

• Enhanced cooperation during civil disarmament operations ahead of the general elections.

Nigeria continues to battle insecurity driven by the widespread circulation of illegal firearms, which fuel banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal violence and organized crime. A permanent partnership between the Police and the country's specialised arms control agency could improve intelligence coordination, tighten control over government armouries and reduce the availability of illicit weapons used by criminal networks. The collaboration also comes at a strategic time as security agencies intensify preparations ahead of the next general elections.

For Nigerians, the proposed partnership could strengthen efforts to limit the circulation of illicit firearms by improving intelligence sharing, arms tracking and enforcement against illegal weapons networks. If effectively implemented, it may make it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to obtain firearms, potentially reducing the availability of illegal weapons used in violent crimes. The collaboration could also enhance the safety of law enforcement personnel by supporting better armoury management, coordinated security operations and more effective responses to armed criminal activities. Ultimately, the success of these objectives will depend on sustained implementation, inter-agency cooperation and consistent enforcement.

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) was established in 2021 by the Federal Government to coordinate Nigeria's implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The Centre works with security agencies to prevent illicit arms trafficking, destroy illegal weapons and strengthen national arms control mechanisms. The Nigeria Police Force has remained one of its key operational partners through firearms recovery operations, investigations and enforcement activities.

Source: Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja (Press Statement issued by CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, ANIPR, Force Public Relations Officer, 17 July 2026).

ℙℝ𝕆𝔾ℝ𝔼𝕊𝕊 𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎𝕊 𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊

The decision to institutionalize cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force and the NCCSALW reflects a shift toward more coordinated security governance rather than isolated enforcement efforts. Beyond recovering illegal weapons, the emphasis on intelligence sharing, armoury accountability, specialised training and joint operations suggests a broader strategy aimed at addressing the root channels through which illicit arms enter and circulate within Nigeria. If effectively implemented, the partnership could strengthen public confidence in national security institutions while improving the country's capacity to respond to emerging internal security threats.