The Federal Operations Unit, Nigeria Customs Service, Zone A, has handed over 1,599 arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
The event took place on Thursday at the Command in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to protecting national borders through targeted anti-smuggling operations and intelligence-driven interventions.
He stated that the consistent interception of illegal arms and ammunition highlights the Customs Service’s crucial role in maintaining national security.
He described the handover as a demonstration of ongoing collaboration with stakeholders in the fight against illicit weapons and a commitment to strengthening public safety.
Adeniyi recalled that in May 2018, the Service intercepted a major cache of arms consisting of 440 pump-action rifles and accessories, which were hidden inside 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement in a 20-foot container with number PONU210024/1.
He noted that this seizure came at a time when security challenges from armed bandits in the North-West and the illegal proliferation of arms in the South-East were on the rise.
Further intelligence-led operations led to the interception of two additional containers at Tin-Can Island Port, concealing arms and ammunition within sanitary wares.
The weapons handed over at the event were recovered from these operations.
He explained that forensic analysis of customs documentation and shipping records, conducted through diplomatic channels in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Embassy, enabled the Service to trace the purchasing company and identify those responsible for the illicit arms shipment.
With the support of financial records obtained through court orders, the Nigeria Customs Service built a solid case, leading to the successful prosecution of the suspects. He cited the Federal High Court case (Suit No: FHC/L/339C/2018), in which Great James Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeuwa Moses Christ, and
Emeka Umeh Festus, also known as Amankwa, were convicted on eight counts.
Adeniyi emphasised that this successful prosecution reinforced the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on arms trafficking and demonstrated the effectiveness of judicial collaboration.
He added that the same investigative and prosecutorial approach is being applied to recent arms seizures at Onne, with ongoing investigations yielding significant progress.
He reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service will spare no effort in tracking, exposing, and prosecuting those who attempt to compromise national security.
He assured that the Service would continue deploying its intelligence and enforcement capabilities to protect legitimate trade while safeguarding Nigeria’s security interests.
He commended the professionalism and dedication of Customs officers who work in challenging conditions to secure the nation’s borders.
He also acknowledged the support of partner agencies, whose collaboration has been instrumental in these achievements. He described the handover of the weapons to NCCSALW as a demonstration of the
Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to the proper disposal of seized arms and its resolve to rid the country of illegal weapons. He assured that Customs would continue working with relevant authorities to strengthen border security and enhance national safety.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Johnson Kokumo, conveyed the commendation of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Representing the NSA, Kokumo praised the collaboration between the Centre and Nigeria’s 16 government arms-bearing agencies, highlighting the Nigeria Customs Service’s critical role in combating the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
He recalled the July 2024 interception of 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition at Onne Port, Port Harcourt, by the Nigeria Customs Service.