NATFORCE Should Suspend Its Operations In Nigeria Immediately – FG

The Federal Government has come out to announce that the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism has been declared an illegal security outfit.

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), recently revealed this via a statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, NATFORCE and other such groups are hereby advised to immediately end their operations nationwide, else they’ll face the consequence.

He added that the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons remains the only recognised national coordination mechanism for the control and monitoring of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

His words, “In particular, the office has cautioned individuals, organisations and foreign partners on the activities of NATFORCE which was illegally formed as a task force to combat illegal importation and smuggling of small arms, ammunition and light weapons into Nigeria.”

“The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser is the national coordination mechanism for the control and monitoring of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.”

“The Office of the National Security Adviser has observed with concern the proliferation of illegal security outfits in the country.”

“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 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.”