The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has disbanded the National Task Force for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NATFORCE.
In a statement on Sunday, the ONSA’s Head of Strategic Communication, ZM Usman, also directed the immediate dismantling of other illegal security outfits, warning against the use of these outfits to extort, harass and intimidate Nigerians.
“In particular, the Office has cautioned individuals, organizations and foreign partners on the activities of NATFORCE which was illegally formed as a taskforce to combat illegal importation and smuggling of small arms, ammunitions and light weapons into Nigeria.
“The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser is the national co-ordination mechanism for the control and monitoring of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria,” the statement stressed.
According to the statement, the ONSA has observed with concern the proliferation of illegal security outfits in the country.
These illegal outfits, the statement said, have been masquerading and acting as part of the Nigerian security architecture while extorting, harassing and intimidating Nigerians.
“One of such groups is NATFORCE which seeks to combat illegal importation of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism and has been involved in mounting of illegal roadblocks, conducting illegal searches, seizures and recruitment.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the general public and all stakeholders are to note that NATFORCE is an illegal outfit without any mandate or authority to carry out these functions.
“This trend is unacceptable and the promoters of NATFORCE are warned to dismantle their structures and operations immediately.”
