Defence, Rivers govt destroy 854 surrendered arms
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt and Chido Okafor, Warri
AS part of efforts to mop up illegal arms in the once volatile Rivers State, the Ministry of Defence and the state government yesterday destroyed 854 guns and other weapons surrendered by warring militia.
The exercise, which was supervised by the Defence Minister, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rivers State Governor Peter Odili took place at the 2 Amphibious Brigade, Bori Camp Port Harcourt.
The Defence Minister described the surrendering of arms and other weapons by the members of the Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo-led Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and Tom Ateke's Niger-Delta Vigilante (NDV) as a demonstration of their willingness to reject violence in order to contribute to the building of a strong, virile, democratic society.
The weapons destroyed included 854 guns, 1,353 rounds of assorted types of ammunition, two grenades and 11 pieces of other explosives.
Kwankwaso explained that the negative impact of illegal firearms on the life of a nation could not be over emphasised.
According to him, most of the violent conflicts around the world, particularly in Africa could be traced to the availability of illegal weapons in the hands of unauthorised persons.
Delighted by the arms surrendered so far, he said when there was proliferation of illegal arms in a society, a state of general insecurity ensued with associated problems of armed banditry, assassination and outright rebellion.
He noted that such state of insecurity could not be conducive for any meaningful development.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had put in place measures to fight the proliferation of illegal weapons in order to ensure a secured environment for the development of the nation.
One of such measures, according to him, is the setting up of a Presidential Committee on the Destruction of Illegal Firearm. He disclosed that a total of 2,204 firearms and 2,437 rounds of ammunition had already been destroyed by the committee through open burning.
Kwankwaso noted that a peaceful and safe environment was a fundamental requirement for building a stronger, united and stable Nigeria. He then urged all stakeholders not to relent in creating awareness on the dangers associated with the proliferation of illegal weapons. At the same time they should cooperate with the security agencies to identify and recover the illicit weapons wherever they might be located.
Governor Odili commended the militia groups' move to disarm, describing it as positive and encouraging.
He reinstated government's position that all illegal weapons must be surrendered by the warlords.
Odili disclosed that the government was still committed to the rehabilitation of the militias. He urged those involved in oil bunkering to desist from the illicit business, which he blamed for arms proliferation in the Niger-Delta region.
He also implored arms manufacturing nations to help in the prevention of the flow of illegal weapons to the region since they were used mainly by oil bunkers.
In a statement handed over to journalists, Mrs. Judith Burdin Asuni of the Academic Associates Peace Works who was instrumental to the truce reached between Dokubo and Atake , said a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), SaferAfrica led by Sarel Bujis and Jeremiah Kiiku, had been invited to assist in the technical process of the disarmament.
The group, she said, had recommended that a third party should be involved in overseeing the disarmament recording and destruction.
SaferAfrica, according to her, had recommended that the reintegration of these militiamen should be seriously addressed
Dokubo, however, caused a stir when he rebuked the army for alleging that Ateke surrendered over 600 guns when he actually surrendered eight. He demanded that the military authorities should tell the world the exact number of weapons surrendered by the various parties.
Meanwhile, in view of the alarming proportion of youth restiveness and agitations in different parts of the country, especially the Niger-Delta region, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Delta State, yesterday, in Abraka, urged the Federal and state governments to improve existing laws that govern the treatment of children that come in conflict with the law.
The call had become necessary, according to FIDA chairperson, Mrs. Aima Elizabeth Akporiare, "because the bearing of arms by children and young people has gained a foothold, which can only be dislodged if the society in which they live, gives them a reason to."
FIDA is theorising on a workable framework to help them influence lawmakers, especially the aspect of law that affects juveniles.
This position was articulated at a workshop on, "Children and the Administration of Justice in Nigeria: Problems and prospects."
She said the international standards of juvenile justice would be examined, with the objective of looking at practical ways of implementing these standards and to ensure a greater understanding of the problems faced by the children who were in conflict with the law and provide a sympathetic approach to dealing with them.
The Chief Judge of Delta State, Mrs. Roseline Bozimo and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Young Igbrude were special guests of honour at the event.
