He made the disclosure during the Arms Destruction Exercise organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.
He explained that the weapons ended up in the hands of non-state actors due to corrupt elements within the security agencies.
The NSA fingered corrupt elements in security agencies who he said facilitate the movement of weapons to terrorists, bandits and other non-state actors.
He however, assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe, secured and protected.
“We have to find a way of putting a stop to this. We must, if we want to recover our country and live in peace and stability.
Ribadu said the arms destruction exercise was one of several measures that have been conducted by the Centre in the past, being a major focus and a decisive step in the concerted effort to address the challenge of arms proliferation in Nigeria.
In his address, the Director General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Kokumo (Rtd.), said the arms destruction exercise was the third in a series since the Centre was established and the first since his assumption.
He said the exercise would witness the destruction of over 2,400 illicit weapons, comprising a mix of unserviceable, decommissioned and recovered arms.
Kokumo stated, “These weapons have been mopped up by the military, police and other security agencies across the country.
“By permanently removing these arms from circulation, we reduce the risk they pose to our communities and send a clear message that Nigeria will not tolerate the illegal trafficking and possession of small arms and light weapons,” he said.
According to him, the destruction exercise was in line with the provisions of Article 17 of the ECOWAS Convention on small arms and light weapons as well as the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW.