President Buhari Seeks Regional Co-Operation To Check Illegal Flow Of Arms Into Nigeria

President Buhari Seeks Regional Co-Operation To Check Illegal Flow Of Arms Into Nigeria

President Buhari today arrived in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital
seeking wider cooperation among countries of Sahel and Saharan regions
to counter the infiltration of small arms to Nigeria, flowing into the
hands of militia forces, bandits and insurgents who are becoming a
threat to human rights and internal security.

The Nigerian leader is participating in the one-day Extraordinary
Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the
Community of Sahel-Saharan States, CEN-SAD, alongside his host and
current Chairperson of CEN-SAD, Idriss Deby Itno and their counterparts
from Niger and Togo, with high-level representations from other
member-countries.

Nigeria under President Buhari has worked closely with immediate
neighbours in the last few years to stem the widespread availability of
small arms and light weapons making their way into Nigeria, but the
“very disturbing recent developments” have impelled the administration
to seek support from a wider circle of countries if the illegal inflows
are to be curtailed.

The President is also putting on the table for discussions, the
problems of irregular migration, trafficking in persons, especially of
women and children as part of the security nature of his engagements.

It is in view of the significance of this organization and the role
it can play in furthering domestic security that President Buhari
ordered the reinvigoration of our nation’s interest, approved the
payment of the backlog of unpaid funds and for a speedier work on the
processes of the ratification of the treaty binding the members of the
organization.

While in N’Djamena, President Buhari is also expected to press for
the protection of the well-being of the large population of Nigerians
living both legally and illegally in Libya, which is the host country of
the CEN-SAD Secretariat.