Tabora residents surrender 17 illegal firearms

TABORA: TABORA residents surrendered 17 illegal firearms and 19 rounds of ammunition during a voluntary disarmament exercise as police intensify efforts to remove unlicensed weapons before the October 31, 2026 amnesty deadline.

Tabora Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Twaha Lulengelule, said the firearms were handed over at police stations, ward executive offices and village government offices across the region following Inspector General of Police Camilius Wambura’s directive for the exercise to be completed before the deadline.

Speaking to journalists while presenting the region’s August security report, ACP Lulengelule said nine shotguns and 15 rifle rounds were surrendered at police stations, with some of the weapons coming from private security companies in Nzega and Tabora districts.

He said another eight firearms, including locally made guns, and four rounds of ammunition were voluntarily handed over by residents in Kaliua District.

The regional police commander urged members of the public who still possess illegal firearms to take advantage of the ongoing amnesty and surrender them before October 31.

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ACP Lulengelule said police operations conducted across the region during August also led to the arrest of 119 suspects linked to various criminal offences, while 16 convicted offenders received prison sentences.

He added that anti-narcotics operations resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects found with 400 kilogrammes of cannabis and 900 sachets of the drug.

He called on residents to continue cooperating with police by providing information about criminal activities and offenders, saying public participation remains essential in maintaining peace and security across the region.

“The voluntary surrender exercise remains open until October 31, and we encourage anyone keeping illegal firearms to hand them over before the amnesty period ends,” ACP Lulengelule said.

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