Customs intercept arms and ammunitions as Acting CG blames increase in arms related violence to illegal arms smuggling.

By: Afolabi Oyekunle.

Illegal smuggling of arms and ammunitions into the country continues despite serious efforts by Customs and other law enforcement agencies.

In several of such smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Services on 5th of July seized several arms; 3 new pump action rifles and one new unit of an armed rifle, 6 new different pistols,one new millennium G2 pistol and one new sarsilmas SAR-9X pistol.

Also within the same period at the Tin Can Island Port Command different sorts of arms were seized.

They include two Sar9 Sarsilmarz pistols, one Ruger American Pistol and 3 Taurus G3c-Bainbridge Pistols. Also 12 different rifles comprising of 5 Rsl7hd rifles, 1 Ruger American Pistol and 3 Taurus G3c-Bainbridge Pistols.

Also seized were 12 differs makes of rifles, and 10packets of cartridges.

Also on Wednesday July 2023, an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal in which 3 pump action rifles with 174 live cartridges was seized.

The driver however ran into the bush and escaped arrest.

Briefing newsmen at the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, of the Customs at Ikeja, the Acting Customs CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said the arms and ammunitions were seized by the dedicated and diligent Officers of the Customs Service.

The CG said the clearing agent, Mr. Shokunbi Olanrewaju of Snooker Global International Limited and Mr. Joseph Nwadiodor who was expected to take delivery of the container are currently being detained as suspects.

He assured that the Service has strategised its operations while the Officers have raised their levels of professionalism and have keyed into the mantra of renewed hope aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.

The CG said Customs has also re-injected new tactics to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents.

He said the illicit arms obtained by non-state actors have boosted the proliferation of Small arms and ammunitions across the country, as this accounts for the increase in violent kidnapping, robberies and mass killings in the society.

He assured all compliant traders and importers that they have nothing to fear.

CG Adeniyi said the Customs recognize its role to the overall objectives of President Tinubu led administration as articulated in the road map of the Policy Advisory Council documents.

He said the declaration of a state of emerged in revenue generation and national security has further aligned their activities with the government’s goals.