Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has advocated for the formation of a dedicated security committee for the North Central region to confront escalating insecurity in the area.
He made the appeal on Wednesday during the commissioning of the North Central zonal office of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), situated in Minna, the state capital. The centre was initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Governor Bago highlighted that the surge in violence across the North Central has led to widespread circulation of small arms and light weapons, emphasising the urgent need for a unified regional response.
He called for a collaborative framework involving the ONSA and state governments to devise effective security strategies tailored to the region’s specific threats.
“The North Central zone is grappling with distinct security problems. It is imperative that we establish a regional Security Committee in partnership with the National Security Adviser’s office to address these issues holistically,” he said.
Representing the National Security Adviser, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Johnson Babatunde Kokuma, who is also the Director General of NCCSALW, stated that the newly inaugurated office represents a significant move towards decentralising the campaign against illegal arms.
According to him, the centre will serve as a key platform for gathering intelligence, promoting inter-agency coordination, and fostering community involvement in addressing security concerns.
State representatives from Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Nasarawa acknowledged the dangers posed by the unchecked spread of illegal weapons and expressed their readiness to back joint security efforts.
They also commended the federal government for choosing Minna as the location for the regional NCCSALW office.
