Police Begin Mop Up of Illegal Firearms in Lagos

Matilda Omonaiye/

Lagos residents have been given three weeks to surrender all prohibited and illegal firearms in their possession to the police.

The announcement followed the directive of the Inspector General of Police to all state commissioners to mop up prohibited and illegal firearms within their jurisdictions.

Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, SP Chike Oti, said in statement that a 10-man committee set up by the state police command to carry out the IG’s mandate gave the order today.

Oti said the committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Muhammad Ali, was inaugurated today by the state police commissioner, Edgal Imohimi.

According to the police spokesman, “the committee held its first meeting immediately after its inauguration at the Police Headquarters, Ikeja and at the end their deliberation, declared that with effect from today 8th March, 2018, a three weeks grace period is given to all members of the public who have illegal and prohibited firearms to submit such firearms to the nearest Police Station or Area Command office.”

The statement listed the categories of firearms covered by the order to include, “slide action mechanism, pump action rifles of all categories, military rifles, pistols and revolvers, machine guns, rocket launchers, projectiles bombs and grenades”.

The statement further said: “The committee is empowered to enter into any house or premises based on credible intelligence with a duly signed search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction, in search and recovery of the aforementioned weapon types.

“The CP urged members of the public in possession of prohibited and illegally acquired firearms to take advantage of the three weeks grace period to turn in their firearms or risk being arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the Firearms Act of 2004.”