Group tasks Federal government to prosecute Suswam, Others over Gun running

Worried by the continuing security challenges in the North Central and Nigeria in general, a group, North Central Renaissance has challenged the Federal Government to reopen cases of gun running against Senator Gabriel Suswam and others with similar cases.

The group in a statement made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, explained that the call became imperative in view of the fact that a large cache of guns and armoury were residing in the hands of unlicensed individuals in the midst of growing security challenges in the country.

Nigeria has witnessed an upsurge in banditry, kidnapping and bloodletting across the country in recent times, a situation that has been described by many as been quite frightening.

Consequently, the group in a statement signed by its convener, Jerome Lan, argued that the nation cannot claim to be fighting insecurity while unlicensed individuals alleged to be keeping large cache of arms go about freely in the society.

“The resurgence of insecurity witnessed in our nation in the recent weeks call for deep concern. The frequency in Boko Haram attacks, banditry and kidnapping points to the fact that there are several arms in the hands of criminals who have continued to use them to terrorize and kill innocent citizens. All hands must be on deck to checkmate the inflow of these arms in Nigeria.

“Recall that on the 24th February 2017, the DSS while acting on credible intelligence, searched and found some incriminating items stashed in the boots of a Mecedez Benz S550 ( BWR 135 AH) and Masarati 47 ( BWR 207 AJ) cars parked at the premises of Dunes Invest and Global Properties limited located at 44 Aguyi Ironsi way, Maitama Abuja. A property belonging to a former Governor of Benue State and a serving Senator Gabriel Suswam.

“These allegations cannot be wished away especially as the nation is confronted with insecurity. As a group that is concerned about security and well being of its citizens, we herein call on the relevant agencies to immediately reopen and investigate all alleged to be involved with fire arms illegally”, the statement noted.

The group further explained that there were too many weapons in the hands of criminals and as such suspected to own such weapons should be arrested and investigated adding it will expose the collaborators and suppliers of such weapons and how they are brought into the country .