Nigeria Solicits UK’s Cooperation On Cross-Border Movement Of Small Arms And Other Weapons

In a bid to put a stop to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria, the Federal Government has solicited the cooperation of the United Kingdom in controlling cross-border movement of small arms and other weapons.

The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), while speaking when he received the Head of West African Conflict and Security Team in his office, Miss Catherine Weiss, called on the team to collaborate with Nigeria in maintaining peace in the North Eastern part of the country.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Interior is saddled with the responsibility of providing stability to the North East following the success recorded by the military in winning the war against insurgency, adding that plans are on to deploy the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to that region to restore and maintain peace.

He added that the Ministry is working assiduously to ensure safety of lives and property in the North East, as well as the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back in their homes.

According to him, “To win the peace, there must be smooth transition between winning the war and the re-establishment of governance in those areas where the war has been won; and this is where the Ministry of Interior comes in.”

When she was speaking earlier, the Head of West African Conflict and Security Team, Miss Catherine Weiss, said their mission in coming to Nigeria to broaden their discussion on the security stabilization of Nigeria.

Miss Weiss was accompanied on the visit by Ben Llewellyn Jones, OBE, Political Counselor from the British Embassy, and Kemi Okeyodo, an independent consultant.

In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Bassey Okon Akpanyung said, Nigeria would welcome the assistance of friendly countries in restoring peace to the North East and other parts of the country. [FMI]