The Turkish government on Tuesday vowed to help Nigeria fish out criminals behind the illegal importation of pump-action rifles into the country.
This was even as the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria declared that importation pump action riffles into Nigeria from Turkey was a pure case of smuggling which both governments have agreed to work together to end.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil during a meeting with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali over importation of four containers of pump action rifles into Nigeria over the past eight months, vowed to help Nigeria fish out criminals behind the illegal arms shipment to Nigeria.
In a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Joseph Attah, Cakil restated his country’s support for the security of Nigeria.
The statement reads in part: “The Turkish Ambassador restated his country’s support for Nigeria’s security and well being, saying Turkey will not support importation of dangerous shipment into Nigeria.
“That all four shipments intercepted were false declaration on the bill of laden, whixh is a clear case of smuggling.
“That Turkish Ambassador will immediately communicate with his home country, finding from the NCS HQ with view to fishing out criminals behind the illegal arms shipment to Nigeria.
“That a team of Nigeria Customs Service visit the Turkish Customs to further discuss ways of nipping such arms export from Turkey as well as strengthening agreement on mutual Customs to Customs assistance.
“The NCS provides for the Turkish authority list of prohibited items and in case of arms, sample of end user certificate to enable them always verify before approving any legal arms export to Nigeria
“That the Turkish government will cooperate with Nigeria in every step to deal decisively with those found involved.
“The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to work together to stop the dangerous trend. Both agreed to use the situation as opportunity to strengthen tides to prevent the use of either country as a base for export of harmful items to the other.”
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