A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) has lamented the proliferation of arms in the country, stating that over 6 million ammunition were in circulation in the nation.
Abdulsalam who is the Chairman, National Peace Committee, expressed concerns that about 80,000 Nigerians have so far lost their lives while about 3 million have been internally displaced in the country.
Speaking during a dialogue session of the Committee in Abuja, the former Head of State said the kind of arms in circulation could tear the country apart.
Abdulsalami added that at the moment the Nigerian populace has been suffering increasing sense of collective despair and despondency.
His words: “The proliferation of all calibre of weapons not only in our sub-region in general and in Nigeria in particular is worrying. It is estimated that there are over 6 million of such weapons in circulation in the country.
This certainly exacerbated the insecurity that led to over 80,000 deaths and close to 3 million internally displaced persons”
He said that it was left for the government to address the problem, adding that security agencies can do better if well equipped with sophisticated weapons and increased funding.
The former Head of State listed the challenges facing the country as the issues of call for the balkanization of the country, Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and rising poverty.
Among those who attended the meeting were chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, other governors, religious leaders and security chiefs.
