By Bashir Hassan, Bauchi
The High Court of Justice, Yobe State, Potiskum Division, has ordered the release and handover of assorted firearms to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), North-East Zonal Centre, as part of efforts to curb insecurity in the country.
The court, in a judgment delivered on October 21, 2026, directed the centre to take custody of the firearms, including AK-47, K2 and G3 rifles, for further action in accordance with the law.
The case, marked Suit No. YBS/HC/PT/194m/2026, was instituted by the Attorney-General of Yobe State against the NCCSALW North-East Zonal Centre.
The presiding judge granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant pursuant to Section 351 of the Yobe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2020, and Sections 4(d), 21, 23, 31 and 32 of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, 2024.
Following the judgment, the North-East Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Adamu (rtd.), was represented at the handover by the Zonal Arms Registrar, Col. Saad Ahmed (rtd.), who took custody of the firearms on behalf of the centre.
The centre did not oppose the application, allowing the court to grant the reliefs sought and facilitate the transfer of the weapons in line with the applicable legal provisions.
The handover will enable the NCCSALW to take further steps regarding the firearms in accordance with the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, 2024, and its statutory mandate to regulate and control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The development highlights the importance of judicial intervention and inter-agency collaboration in ensuring that recovered or seized firearms are managed through established legal procedures.
In a related development, Maj.-Gen. Adamu called on chief judges across the North-East to facilitate the transfer of all illicit small arms and light weapons impounded by relevant authorities to the NCCSALW for onward destruction.
He said such cooperation would strengthen efforts to eliminate illicit weapons and support ongoing initiatives to address insecurity in the region and the country at large.
