The National Commandant, National Taskforce for Combating Illegal Importation of Weapons, Aliyu Aminu-Wayas, on Thursday solicited government support in combating banditry, importation and sales of illegal weapons in the country.
Aliyu, who made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja, stressed that if given the mandate, the Force would stop at nothing to ensure Nigerians sleep with both eyes closed.
He added that the late Director-General, Natforce, Mr Osita Okereke, had planned to employ 350 Natforce agents in each local government of the federation.
He stressed that if the Force was able to achieve the above target, banditry and insecurity would be a thing of the past and Nigerians will be able to sleep with two eyes closed.
”We sponsor ourselves to uncover kidnappers hideouts and we have discovered close to 200 camps in Nasarawa State alone and we are ready to fight and eradicate them.
”With mobility, we will reach all these sensitive areas where illegal arms and ammunition are being imported and intercept them.
”We are calling on the President to assist us.
“Presently, we still feed the other law enforcement agencies with intelligence on how to catch these criminals but they always hijack the credit.
“So, if the government fully backs us and our bill which is currently in the National Assembly, we will do better than any law enforcement agency in Nigeria,” he said.
The FCT Commandant of the Task Force, Mr. Adebayo Afolabi expressed optimism that President Buhari would sign the Bill into a law as he is interested in the security of the country.
Afolabi stressed that if properly equipped and backed by the government Nigerians would experience peace in the shortest time possible.
“If our bill goes through, we will not be redundant to the government.
“We have so many ways of generating income, both for ourselves and the government as well,’’ he said. (NAN)