The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Nigeria, declaring that the nation's security agencies remain united in confronting threats posed by the proliferation of illicit arms.

Ribadu, who was represented by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, gave the assurance on Thursday, July 30, 2026, during the public destruction of illicitly acquired, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the General Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.

The event witnessed the destruction of approximately 2,819 illicit, decommissioned and unserviceable small arms and light weapons, bringing the cumulative number of destroyed weapons to about 19,000 since the establishment of the Centre.

In a statement signed by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, PAP, the NSA emphasized that the availability of illegal weapons continues to fuel terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts across the country, noting that every recovered and destroyed weapon represents a significant step towards enhancing national security.

"Every weapon recovered and destroyed represents a threat permanently neutralized," Ribadu stated.

According to him, the Office of the NSA, with the full backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has continued to implement a comprehensive security strategy anchored on intelligence-led operations, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, disruption of criminal financing networks, and strengthened international partnerships.

He said the strategy has recorded measurable successes, including the degradation of terrorist networks, improved border security, and enhanced responses to emerging security threats nationwide.

Ribadu described the control and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons as a vital component of the country's broader security architecture, noting that it complements ongoing military and law enforcement operations by reducing the number of weapons available to criminal elements.

He commended the Director-General of the NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Rtd.) Johnson Kokumo, and his team for their professionalism, dedication and sustained collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies whose recovery efforts made the exercise possible.

The NSA stressed that ensuring national security is a collective responsibility, calling on traditional rulers, religious leaders, community stakeholders and all Nigerians to support government efforts by providing credible information and promoting peaceful coexistence.

He further assured Nigerians that the nation's security agencies remain committed to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property across the country.

"Exercises such as this, conducted openly and transparently, are proof of consistent follow-through, not mere ceremony. Government understands that public confidence is earned through sustained, visible action, and we remain committed to earning it, one milestone at a time," he said.

The destruction exercise underscores the Federal Government's determination to curb the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which remain a major driver of insecurity in various parts of Nigeria.