The Jagunmolu of Somolu/Bariga Kingdom in Lagos, Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson, has issued a strong warning about the alarming re-emergence of legally registered firearms previously seized from licensed owners into the possession of criminal elements across Lagos and parts of the Southwest.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) in Ikeja, where he served as Royal Father of the Day, Oba Timson alleged that the firearms seized under an executive directive were never destroyed, returned, or transparently accounted for.
According to the traditional ruler, gun owners across communities in Lagos had complied with the government directive requiring them to surrender their arms despite holding valid five-year licenses. He explained that the process from collection at divisional police stations to transfer at state commands and eventual movement to the office of the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja was opaque and troubling.
“Those guns were seized not because they were unlicensed or used to commit crimes, but simply because an executive order was issued,” Oba Timson stated.
He further alleged that many of the seized weapons have found their way into criminal circles.
“Today, some of those guns have found their way back into Lagos in the wrong hands. They were not destroyed, and they were not returned. Yet they are now being used by people who never bought them or held any certification.”
Oba Timson cautioned that the circulation of such diverted weapons is worsening community insecurity, emboldening armed gangs, and fueling violent attacks and intimidation across neighborhoods.
He stressed that the situation undermines the efforts of law enforcement agencies and leaves residents vulnerable.
“When licensed guns taken through official channels begin to appear with criminal elements, insecurity cannot be controlled,” he warned.
The royal father challenged crime reporters and investigative journalists to probe the handling of seized firearms, demanding greater transparency and institutional accountability.
He insisted that interrogating how weapons moved from official custody into the hands of criminals is critical to restoring public trust and ensuring effective security management.
“This is a matter that must be exposed and thoroughly probed,” he emphasized.
Oba Timson also urged journalists to reclaim the fearless investigative spirit that once defined crime reporting in Nigeria, saying that rigorous journalism remains a powerful tool in uncovering system failures and preventing the escalation of violence.