The Bauchi Police Command has warned people in possession of illegal firearms, to surrender them to the police or face the wrath of the law in the state.
Umar Sanda, the Commissioner of Police, gave the warning in a statement through the command’s spokesman, SP Ahmed Wakil, and made available to newsmen on Friday, in Bauchi.
He said the police was concerned about the increasing proliferation and engagement of prohibited firearms that threatened security.
Sanda has directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Tactical/ Operational Departments of the Command to put in place more efforts to identify, “disarm, arrest and prosecute any Quasi security outfits, person or group of persons in possession of firearms prohibited by law”.
He further directed all Divisional Police Officers to, with immediate effect; organize enlightenment meetings for members of Vigilance groups and forest guards.
“Hunters and all other local security outfits within their areas of responsibility, to ensure they operated in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.
The Commissioner of Police said all respective Area Commanders were to coordinate, supervise and report the outcome of such meetings to the CP forthwith.
“All local Quasi security outfits who operated offices, in which they arrest and detain persons is hereby declared illegal, and anyone found flouting this order would be arrested and prosecuted”, the statement said.(NAN)
