The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), North East Zonal Centre, has called for stronger collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to combat illicit arms proliferation, drug trafficking and organised crime in Borno State and the wider North-East region.
The Zonal Director of NCCSALW, North East Zonal Centre, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Adamu (rtd.), made the call on Wednesday, during a courtesy visit to the Borno State Commander of NDLEA, Usman Sule, at the agency's state command headquarters.
Adamu said illicit firearms proliferation and drug trafficking were interconnected security threats that strengthened criminal networks, fuelled banditry, violent extremism, and undermined the safety and stability of communities.
He stressed the need for a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach among security and law enforcement agencies to effectively address the challenges.
The Zonal Director explained that the NCCSALW, established under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was mandated to prevent and control the proliferation and misuse of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
He said the North-East Zonal Centre covered the six states in the region, with responsibilities including arms recovery, documentation, tracing, public sensitisation, inter-agency coordination and capacity building.
Adamu identified the NDLEA as a strategic partner in addressing the connection between illicit drugs and firearms, calling for cooperation in the identification, documentation and lawful transfer of illicit weapons recovered during the agency's operations, in accordance with established legal procedures.
He also advocated intelligence sharing, joint public awareness campaigns, capacity building and community engagement to strengthen efforts against criminal activities.
The NCCSALW Zonal Director further proposed regular information-sharing arrangements and periodic engagements between the two agencies to improve operational coordination and respond effectively to emerging security threats.
He reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening collective efforts against illicit arms proliferation and organised crime.
In his response, the Borno State Commander of the NDLEA appreciated Adamu and his delegation for the visit and assured them of the command's readiness to sustain collaboration with the Centre.
Sule said the command would continue to work closely with the NCCSALW in addressing shared security challenges.
The visit provided an opportunity for both agencies to explore practical areas of cooperation towards strengthening security and combating illicit arms proliferation, drug trafficking and related criminal activities in Borno State and the wider North-East region.
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