The Nigeria Police Force has denied issuing gun permit to the Zamfara State Government to be used by vigilance group in the state.
"The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state that in furtherance of the subsisting embargo, it has not and does not intend to issue permits to any person, group of persons, organisation or agency of any state government, for the procurement or purpose of bearing firearms," a statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations, Frank Mba, said.
Mba quoted the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, as saying in Abuja on Sunday that the ban earlier imposed by the police on the issuance of fresh licences for procurement of firearms was still in force.
Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Sha'aba Lafiagi, had last week alleged that Zamfara State Governor Abdul'Aziz Abubakar had purchased guns and ammunition to arm vigilance groups in his state.
Lafiagi said the governor had approached the IG for a permit after he bought the guns.
But the police in the statement insisted that it was an offence for a person to have in his possession or under his control any prohibited firearms without a licence granted by the President of the country or the IG.
The statement added, "Members of the public should therefore note that it is an offence punishable under the law for a person to have in his possession or under his control, a personal firearm without a licence issued by the IG; it is also an offence for any person to import or export firearms or ammunition without the appropriate licence.
"While vigilance groups and other sincere community efforts towards safety and security are encouraged to work in partnership with local police authorities, the conduct and practice of such groups must be in total conformity with the law of the land."
The Punch