From Audu Joe, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has lamented the prevailing proliferation of arms across the country with a warning to students and youths in the state to desist from indulging in any act of criminality as perpetrators will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones gave the warning at the ”National Conference Of The School Of Management Studies, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
Jones said that the Conference’s theme: ”Proliferation of Small Arms And Light Weapons (SALWs) And State Resilience In The 21st Century”, was timely due to the current insecurity bedevilling the nation.
He commended the Rector, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, the management and organisers of the conference for the choice of the theme, saying it would address the prevailing circumstances and situation of the nation.
He noted that proliferation of small arms and light weapons as currently being experienced across the length and breadth of the country have inflicted negatively on the lives of citizens.
According to the commissioner “The Administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is ready to do all it takes to ensure the security of lives and property in Kogi State, and zero tolerance to arms proliferation.
”Whoever is caught in the act of crime and criminality in Kogi State will go to jail”
Earlier, the Kogi Poly Rector, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, noted that the memory bank of academic institutions in Nigeria is full with ugly accounts of SALWs-related tragedies and affronts which have vividly contradicted the very underlining philosophy of education.
He added that in many higher institutions including Kogi Poly, the crises of supremacy and territorial control among different cult groups have often fuelled social insecurity and academic instability.
He stressed that dangerous cult crises have seriously impeded on academic and peaceful welbeing of both staff and students of many institutions.
Usman noted that the school management under his leadership had explored the 21st century technology as proactive measures against insecurity which was apt and functional.
”Our efforts in combating the school infiltration of these illicit arms and weapons on our campus can be modestly described as aggressive and resolute.
”Our goal is to ensure progress in the areas of security development, with special focus on creating a safe learning environment through elimination of access to small arms and light weapons on our campus”, he said.
A Traditional ruler, the Ohimegye Igu of Kotonkarfe, Alhaji Abulrasak Isah Koto called for adoption of technology in combating crime and criminality as well as going back to the family basis in addressing the issue of insecurity in the country.
The Key note Speaker, Prof. Hassan Saliu, from Department of Political Sciences, University of Ilorin, delivered a paper, titled: ”Understanding The Impact of Small and Light Weapons on Nigeria’s Security Situation”.
The don urged government and leaders at various levels to ensure equity, justice and fairness to all Nigerians, saying, ”the feeling of alienation from governments, especially the Federal Government, is not a good tendency in our country”.
He also urged government to imbibe the culture of dialogue as a viable option to proffering solutions to several agitations and challenges.
Saliu also stressed the need to address youth unemployment which he said it had reached epidemic level.
According to him, the current efforts of the Federal Government in addressing youth unemployment are like a drop in the ocean.
On his part, the Lead Paper Presenter, Dr John Tor Tsuwa, from Department of Political Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, delivered a paper, titled: ”Arms Proliferation, National Security and Sustainable Development in Nigeria”.
Tor Tsuwa noted that the proliferation of arms was encouraged by unabated conflicts both intra and inter ethnics militancy and criminality, porous border, economic regression and lack of basic amenities occasioned by an irresponsive and unaccountable government.
He recommended that the government should adopt local content in its control initiatives by thinking globally and act locally.
He added that there was need to strengthen inter agencies cooperation among the security agencies on intelligence and information gathering and sharing, and improve control through technology on Nigeria borders.