Defence Minister raises alarm over arms proliferation

•JTF declares John Togo wanted



By Sukuji Bakoji (Kaduna) and Harris-Okon Emmanuel (Warri)



Defence Minister Adetokunbo Kayode has decried the proliferation of arms in Nigeria, saying it is worrisome particularly in the run up to the elections next year.

The situation is made worse by the bloody conflicts in neighbouring countries, Kayode told reporters on Tuesday after declaring open a conference of the Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

To solve the problem, he said the National Technical Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOM) has been created in the Defence Ministry to work with the security agencies.

“Besides, the proliferation of the light arms and small weapons is as a result of the problems in Chad, Sudan, Central African Republic and so on; so there is a lot of trade in arms generally,” he noted.

“The security forces are taking the matter very seriously; what happened in the Apapa Port recently is an example.

“But the important thing is that we build a strong security backbone for ourselves to make sure that we control and forestall people bringing in arms into this country.”

In a related development, The Joint Task Force (JTF), on Tuesday declared militant leader , John Togo, wanted and advised any community harbouring him to hand him over to security agencies to avoid being caught in crossfire.

The JTF described Togo as a dangerous criminal who should not be taken for granted, and said he is wanted to account for the resurgence of kidnapping, rape, sea robbery, and other crimes perpetrated by his gang in the Niger Delta.

JTF Media Coordinator, Lt Col. Timothy Antigha, pledged that all efforts will be made to fish out Togo.

He insisted that the JTF will negotiate with him because he has subjected the people of the Niger Delta to criminal activities.

Antigha said the newspaper report of a JTF negotiation with Togo is “completely false, intended to malign the JTF and misdirect the government and the generality of Nigerians about the true situation on the ground.

“It is further intended to undermine the gallant effort of the JTF to rout dangerous criminal gangs from the creeks of the Niger Delta.

“The Task Force wishes to make it abundantly clear that it is not directly or through any proxy, negotiating or planning to negotiate with anyone to facilitate the surrender or ceasefire for anyone as claimed by the report.”

However, the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), led by Togo, has given the government conditions for a ceasefire.

The NDLF asked Abuja to convene a post-amnesty conference by December 2 or else it would not lay down its arms.

A statement issued by its Spokesman, Mark Anthony, said the conference should comprise all the aggrieved former militant leaders, officials of the Nigerian Government, as well as those of the United States Government and the United Nations as observers.

The group listed its demands to include state creation, equal oil and gas wealth distribution, abrogation of Land Use Act, rapid development of the Niger Delta, and the release of all detainees.

“Our two weeks ultimatum expires on December 2, 2010 and based on this temporary ceasefire, we give the Federal Government additional one week to enable it prepare and come out with a proposal to announce a formal date for the post amnesty conference,” the statement added.

It, however, denied calling for the release of Henry Okah, former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), and also distanced itself from calls for the revocation of oil blocs allocated to former militant leaders.