Firearms submission: Lagos police to arrest violators

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, on Friday said that the command would not hesitate to arrest persons who failed to surrender illegal firearms.

Aderanti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the command gave such persons Oct. 10 deadline to willingly submit the arms.

“The submission has expired; anyone now found with illegal weapons will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

One of the first things I did when I came on board was to issue a statement that everybody in possession of illegal firearms should get them returned to the police.

This means that whosoever is arrested in possession of any firearm now would have his or herself to blame,’’ he said.

He told NAN that the response to the police directive had not been encouraging.

“We have made our statement, and it means that whoever is apprehended to be in possession of firearm of whatever caliber will have himself to blame,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Aderanti had, on Sept. 26, directed all persons possessing illegal arms in the state to surrender such by Oct. 10.

He gave the directive shortly after his resumption of office, saying that it was aimed at curbing crime.

Aderanti urged politicians not to encourage thuggery in their campaigns.

“We expect politicians not to encourage thuggery in their political campaigns to achieve violent-free elections in 2015.

Aderanti gave the assurance that the command would do its best to curb crime in the state. (NAN)

See more at: Daily Independent