Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has called for decisive and coordinated action to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, warning that their spread among bandits and criminal networks poses one of the gravest threats to peace and national security.

The governor made the call on Tuesday while receiving the Zonal Director of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Abdul Adamu Eneche, and his delegation at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos.

Mutfwang lamented Nigeria’s porous borders, which he said have enabled the influx of dangerous weapons, emboldened non-state actors, and worsened insecurity.

“Indeed, it is very worrisome that a large number of arms and ammunition have found their way into the hands of non-state actors,” he said.

Highlighting recent security breakthroughs, the governor disclosed that law enforcement agencies had intercepted and confiscated over 40 AK-47 rifles in Plateau, reflecting the scale of the problem.

He charged the NCCSALW to intensify intelligence-driven operations to disrupt illegal arms networks. “Let’s go after the real criminals. We must activate and strengthen our intelligence networks to intercept these arms. Where necessary, we will invest in intelligence gathering. As a government, we have directed all our local government chairmen to penetrate the criminal networks of those we have glamourised as bandits, but who, in truth, are dangerous criminals and murderers,” he stated.

Mutfwang assured the centre of his administration’s full cooperation with federal agencies to reinforce peace and security across the state.

In his response, Eneche commended Plateau for its robust support of law enforcement efforts, describing the state as a vital partner in the national campaign against arms proliferation. He reaffirmed NCCSALW’s readiness to collaborate on intelligence gathering, sensitisation, and enforcement operations.

Weak Local Governance Fuelling Insecurity – IPCR

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has identified weak or absent governance at the grassroots as one of the biggest drivers of insecurity in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja during a press conference to mark the 2025 International Day of Peace and IPCR’s 25th anniversary, Ochogwu warned that communities without effective local government structures remain vulnerable to violent actors.

“Our findings revealed long ago that the absence of governance at the community level creates vacuums that violent actors quickly exploit. Local governments are the frontline institutions for conflict prevention, management and resolution. Where they are weak or non-existent, communities remain open to attacks and lawlessness,” he said.

Ochogwu commended President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation for securing a Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy, describing it as a bold step that could reshape Nigeria’s conflict landscape if enforced.

He also raised concerns about worsening insecurity in the Sahel, warning that its instability would inevitably spill into Nigeria. According to him, IPCR is working with ECOWAS, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, and other partners to contain the threat.

Looking ahead, he announced plans to train one million Nigerians in peace-building and conflict resolution through a free online learning platform being developed by the institute.

In goodwill messages, Director of NEEM Foundation, Ahmad Jumare, praised IPCR for supporting peace efforts in the Northcentral and Northwest; Rev. Ozumba Emmanuel, representing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), lauded the institute for raising “a generation of peacebuilders”; while Josephine Etta of the Standsafe Society Against Drug and Substance Abuse (SSADASA) highlighted the link between drug abuse and violence, thanking IPCR for grassroots campaigns.