PICTORIAL: Customs Hands Over Intercepted Arms, Ammunition Cache To NCCSALW

By Yusuf Babalola, Lagos

In a significant step towards curbing the proliferation of illegal weapons in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially handed over a total of 3,897 arms and ammunition to the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

Details of the Seizures:

• The intercepted arms and ammunition, which included 1,599 arms and 2,298 rounds of live ammunition, were seized between 2018 and 2024.
• The seizures took place at various locations including the seaports and land borders.

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi:
During the handover ceremony at the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos, Adeniyi provided an in-depth breakdown of the seizures, emphasizing the Service’s collaboration with stakeholders in enhancing public safety.

One notable interception occurred in May 2018 when 440 pump-action rifles were concealed within 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (PoP) cement in a 20ft container. Adeniyi also detailed how intelligence operations led to the interception of additional containers filled with arms and ammunition, smuggled among sanitary wares at Tincan Island Port.

Adeniyi added that these seizures were particularly significant in light of rising security challenges, especially in the North-West, where armed bandits were a growing threat, and the South-East, where illegal arms proliferated. The success of these interceptions was also linked to strong international cooperation and forensic capabilities.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu:
In his remarks, Ribadu, represented by the Director General of NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector General of Police (rtd) Babatunde Kokumo, praised the NCS for its ongoing efforts in fighting illicit arms trafficking. He referred to a major bust in July 2024 where 844 rifles and over 112,000 rounds of live ammunition were seized in Port Harcourt.

Ribadu emphasized the importance of continuing to channel seized arms to the NCCSALW, which is responsible for managing and eliminating them from circulation. He reaffirmed the center’s role in spearheading initiatives to address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and West Africa.

Moving Forward:
With the handover of the 3,897 arms and ammunition, Ribadu assured that the NCCSALW would take all necessary measures to destroy the weapons and ensure they do not return to circulation. He highlighted the center’s ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders, including security agencies and international partners, to address the challenges posed by illicit arms trafficking.

This action underscores the critical importance of interagency cooperation in ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria and the wider West African region. The NCCSALW’s mission remains focused on eliminating illicit arms, which have been central to many security issues such as terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry.

The commitment from the NCS and other agencies signals a unified and determined effort to tackle the challenges posed by the proliferation of illegal weapons in Nigeria.