In a bid to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has sought support and collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
According to EFCC, the Centre’s management, led by its Director General, Johnson Babatunde made the plea on Tuesday, 18 February 2025 in a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Babatunde revealed that the Centre has established a link between arms proliferation and finances from horrible crimes, stressing that the country would be free of violent crimes when there is no proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
“We are here essentially to look for possibilities of initiating collaborative efforts with the EFCC in the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. Since we’ve been able to establish a link between arms proliferation and finances from heinous crimes.
“We acknowledge the pivotal role of the EFCC in combating financial and economic crimes in Nigeria and in a way, violent crimes. It is common knowledge that most violent crimes in Nigeria wouldn’t have been possible if proliferation of small arms and light weapons was absent.
“But with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, criminal elements become involved. So we are here to seek collaboration. We are here to seek for synergy. We are here to initiate a sort of an interaction, a collaborative effort with the EFCC to see how the EFCC will be of tremendous assistance to us in our statutory responsibility of fighting proliferation of small arms and light weapons,” NCCSALW boss said.
EFCC’s manpower training in the areas of financial intelligence, forensic investigations and financial intelligence analysis would help in the course, Babatunde stressed.
In response, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede acknowledged the strong link between violent crimes and financial crimes in the country, pledging support with the Centre to address this issue.
“Wherever you see insecurity, there is usually the propensity or prevalence of financial crimes… There is a very strong relationship between financial crimes and proliferation of small arms, which the end result is insecurity.”
He expressed delight with the increasing collaboration among law enforcement agencies in the country, adding that synergy is essential for effective information and intelligence sharing to curb the menace.
