He made the remark on Tuesday in Katsina at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the ``Proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, insecurity and integration in West Africa’', organised by the ministry.
Represented by Amb. Kabir Garba, an Under-Secretary in the ministry, Mohammed said access to small arms and light weapons was also responsible for the upsurge in criminal activities such as armed robbery and kidnapping in the country.
``Nigeria has witnessed the consequences of easy access to small arms and light weapons.
`` The activities of Boko Haram and Bakassi militants are some of these consequences.
``The threats caused by these militants to Nigeria’s peaceful co-existence today, is clear to everybody to attest,” he said.
The minister appealed to arms producers to ensure best practices by preventing such weapons from ``falling into the wrong hands''.
He reiterated the commitment of the ministry to embark on enlightenment campaigns on the dangers associated with easy access to small arms.
``It is part of the enlightenment campaign that this sensitisation workshop is being held in Katsina.
``Similar workshop was also held in the southern part of the country,’’ he said.
Earlier, Gov. Ibrahim Shema had noted that the integration and peace desired by ECOWAS member states would not be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity.
``Peace is for all and therefore everybody needs to contribute his or her quota in the crusade against the circulation of illicit arms to ensure peace and harmony,” Shema, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba said.
The governor commended the ministry for organising the workshop which he said was ``timely and necessary''.
``No society could endure circulation of arms and expect peace and harmony,’’ he said, and urged Nigerians to support the government in its crusade against the circulation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
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