Executive order: We’re not aware of revocation of gun licences, say Police

The Nigeria Police Force has said it is not aware of the
Executive Order reportedly issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to
revoke licences for firearms or short guns nationwide.

The Executive Order, according to reports, is to take effect
from June 1 (today).

The President was said to have signed the order on May 22, 2019,
in response to threats by some Niger Delta militants to declare a
Niger Delta Republic and secede from Nigeria.

But, the police denied knowledge of the order barely 24 hours
after the National Assembly, through the Federal House of
Representatives, passed a resolution asking Buhari to reverse it in
the interest of Nigerians.

The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a
motion, which came under Matters of Urgent Public Importance,
titled, ‘Motion on the Need for Mr President to Rescind the
Executive Order to Remove, Revoke and Banish all Firearms
Certificates and Licences Throughout the Country,” at the
plenary.

The lawmakers contended that the Executive Order cannot override
an Act of Parliament, just as they urged the President to sign into
law the bill on the Establishment of the (National) Commission
against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The green chamber said many citizens would be left vulnerable
and would be at the mercy of mindless criminals, terrorists,
bandits and kidnappers, if the order was not rescinded.

The lawmakers argued that licensed guns were not the ones used
to perpetrate crimes, noting that withdrawing the guns would
further expose law-abiding Nigerians to danger as they would become
the target of “mindless criminals and bandits.”

They called on security agencies to rather go after the
criminals carrying out their nefarious acts with unlicensed
guns.

According to reports, the Executive Order mandates the police
and other security agencies to confiscate all firearms in the
possession of Nigerians.

If implemented, thousands of Nigerians would lose their licensed
arms which may increase their vulnerabilities.

But the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said he
was “not aware” of the order.

Responding to Saturday PUNCH enquiries on Friday about the
implementation of the order for revocation of firearms licences,
the police spokesman simply said, “I am not aware of the order and
we cannot confirm the order.”

Mba declined further comments, saying that was all he could say
on the matter.

Findings by our correspondents indicated that the Presidency had
neither commented nor denied reports on the purported order since
it came to the public domain contrary to the practice by the
Presidential spokespersons who usually announce government policies
or deny any form of false reports.

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