No Weapons From UK Are Used Against Boko Haram-Envoy
The British government, Friday, said no weapons from the United Kingdom are being used in the ongoing war in the north east of Nigeria.
Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission to Nigeria in Abuja Mr. Simon Shercliff said this on Friday at a press conference organized by the West African Action on Small Arms (WAANSA) in Abuja.
Shercliff said the traffic of weapons into flash points in Nigeria has contributed in no small measure to the thousands killed during insurgency in the areas.
He explained that the British government has regulations that control the trade in arms by private companies involved in weapons manufacturing.
“I can guarantee you that there are no British arms inside Nigeria that is contributing into the blood shedding in the North east,” he stated.
The envoy also called for the domestication of the Arms Trade Treaty (AAT) recently ratified by the over 63 of 130 countries who signed the treaty for the regulation of the International trade in small arms and light weapons.
He urged for domestic legislation that will enforce the treaty among member states so as to reduce the devastation and criminality that results in the proliferation of arms and ammunitions.
Also speaking, the Regional President of WAANSA, Mr Baffour Amoa said the association played a significant role in Negotiating the treaty with 193 member states.