National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms (NTFIILWSM) has blamed the proliferation of firearms in the country on the uncontrollable number of private jets.
Director General of the task force, Osita Okereke, who made this known in Okrika, headquarters of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, confirmed that there was an increase in arms build-up in the country, particularly as the nation begins a count-down to the 2015 general elections.
Okereke said the fact that Nigerians, especially (governors) who are now in a “rush to buy private jets, do so without proper checks, and in that process, it is possible that they too could bring arms into the country to project their political pursuit.
“I agree with you that there is so much arms build-up in this country today. But some of these governors who are shouting on top of their voices cannot be exonerated from this, as some of them may be culpable.
“Arms are not only coming through the waterways. Those who own private jets are more to be blamed”, he said.
He also took stock of the group’s activities, saying they have added marked value to the war against illegal acquisition of light weapons and firearms working with relevant government partners either by thwarting mass importation or recovering those already in unauthorized hands.
Okereke’s confirmation comes barely three weeks after the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi alerted of increasing spate of arms build up amongst some desperate politicians who were bent on dislodging his administration in the state by all means.
Amaechi’s observation has been accentuated by an unprecedented orgy of cult-related clashes, criminal gang activities, resulting in heightened spectre of kidnapping and car snatching in the state.
However, the Rivers State Police Command, under the leadership of the embattled Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has repeatedly dismissed allegations that criminal activities, including kidnapping, premeditated murder, car snatching and cult-related wars were on the rise in the state, claiming that the police were on top of the situation.
As the count down to the 2015 general elections gather increasing momentum, it is yet to be seen how a clearly partisan police team can guarantee the protection, safety and security of innocent citizens, in the wake of confirmed politically-driven arms build up in a strategic state such as Rivers State in the nation’s political firmament.