Nigeria Customs Service have handed over a total of 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live ammunition cartridges to the office of the National Security Adviser.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lagos, the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, stated the importance of the handover. He stressed that some of the importers of the assault weapons have been convicted. While other cases are still undergoing court process.
Adeniyi added that 11 suspects connected to the arms trafficking network were also handed over for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has reinforced its core mandate of protecting the nation’s borders. He noted that this is through targeting of anti-smuggling operations and precise intelligence-driven interventions.
The CG noted that the NCS has played a frontline role in maintaining national security by intercepting illegal arms and ammunition.
Receiving the ammunition, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, commended the collaborative efforts between Customs and other arms-bearing agencies.
The NSA was represented by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Director General, Johnson Kokumo.
The NCCSALW DG reiterated the government’s commitment to preventing the circulation of illicit arms in the country.
He noted that this is not the first time the NCS would intercept rifles imported into the country.
Recall that in May 2018, the agency intercepted 440 pump-action rifles. They were concealed in 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement.
The current ammunition were hidden in a 20-foot container at the Tin Can Island Port. Further investigations led to the discovery of two additional containers (CMAU 189817/8 and GESU 255208/1). They were similarly packed with arms hidden among sanitary wares.
Recall that Nigeria is currently battling with insecurity across the country. With crimes incidents such as kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery on daily increase.
source: Channels TV
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