Katsina destroys 416 weapons recovered from criminals

About 416 arms recovered under the Katsina State disarmament programme have been destroyed.

The programme seeks to mop up illicit arms in circulation and establish a sustainable way for combating the incidences of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW )

Daily Trust reports that the programme was also a partnership with the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM)/ ECOWAS-EU small arms project.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Aminu Masari said the programme has recorded an unprecedented success in the voluntary surrender of illicit SALW by repentant miscreants and criminal elements across the state.

Represented by the Secretary to Government of State, Mustapha Inuwa, Masari said the programme has been a veritable tool in the reduction of crime in the state as kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other crimes and vices plaguing the state are evidently on the decline.

“We have been informed that this partnership will provide micro projects in selected communities and for individuals who have keyed in, as such we are ready to make it available in the communities and people involved to benefit,” he said

In his remarks, the Programme Coordinator of PRESCOM, Nkemakonam Orji, said about 2.3 million Euros was set aside for the twoyear project that will intervene in micro-scale training and alternative livelihood for the beneficiaries.

“We are waiting for the state to make available eight communities to be keyed in into the scheme,” he said.