The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has issued a plea to the Nigerian public, urging them to report any individuals found with live ammunition to help curb the rising issue of arms proliferation in the country.
The call to action was shared in an official statement on Sunday via Adejobi’s X account, accompanied by a photo displaying the dangerous live ammunition known as “èpà” or “groundnuts” in street slang.
Adejobi emphasised the lethality of these ammunition rounds, specifying that they should only be in the possession of statutory security agents and no one else.
He implored citizens to expose anyone seen with such ammunition in the company of friends or civilians, highlighting the collective effort needed to address the alarming increase in arms and ammunition availability in Nigeria.
Sharing a picture of live ammunition, Adejobi stated, “These are live ammunition, called “èpà” or “groundnuts” in the street.
“They are deadly, not to be seen with anyone except security agents. Statutory security agents, no other ones.
“If you see them with any friend or civilian, please expose him or her. We need to collectively curb the proliferation of arms and ammunition in Nigeria.”
The statement follows recent efforts by law enforcement in Lagos State, where Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade paraded 34 suspects involved in various crimes, including armed robbery, stealing, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
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Fayoade listed notable achievements during his one-month tenure, citing the successful resolution of 14 cases and the recovery of a significant arsenal. Among the seized items were 16 firearms, including a toy pistol, 72 live cartridges, 75 live ammunition rounds, one expended cartridge, one pistol magazine, six axes, four daggers, one digger, five cutlasses, two vehicles, one POS machine, fake registration plates, and various charms.