The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Friday said the proliferation of illegal arms in the country was a threat to its corporate existence.
Gen. Irabor stated this shortly after a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the Government House, Asaba, Delta state.
He said the presidential directive to shoot-on-sight anyone with an AK-47 rifle was very clear and must be enforced, stressing that “Nigeria as a country forbids illegal bearing of arms.”
He, therefore, warned that anyone found with such weapons was an enemy of the state and would be treated as such.
“The mandate of the president for dealing with everyone holding AK-47 illegally is a mandate that must be enforced because we are a state that does not condone illegal bearing of arms.
“The armed forces and other security agencies are the only institutions that are mandated to carry arms in the course of their duties. So, anyone who is carrying an AK-47 or any other weapon, for that matter, is considered a threat to the existence of the state.
“And, because he is an enemy of the state, it must be addressed; so it’s not a question of my view but rather a question of having to carry out the mandate of Mr. President.
“The Armed Forces in partnership with other security agencies will do all that is necessary to bring peace and security across the land and Nigeria certainly will know peace again,” he said.
The CDS said further that he was in the state for the first time since he was appointed as the CDS and commended Governor Okowa for his support to the armed forces and other security agencies in the state.
“Delta is my home and it feels good to be home, and I said that I cannot come home without paying a courtesy call on the executive governor of the state who has done pretty well, giving very credible support to the members of the armed forces and security agencies.
“I am aware of the threat dispositions within Delta even though it is stable now, we know that there are areas of interest that we will need to do a lot to add value in up-scaling the security disposition of the state and this is part of what myself and my colleagues were doing.
“I believe that the state will in no time begin to experience greater levels of peace and security.”
Earlier, Governor Okowa had congratulated the CDS on his appointment and promotion and urged him to do more to secure the nation.
