The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over a cache of seized smuggled weapons to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The transfer, which took place on Thursday at the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone “A” in Ikeja, Lagos, included 1,599 assorted firearms and 2,298 live cartridges. The weapons were officially received by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
This development aligns with the federal government’s intensified efforts to curb the spread of illegal arms in Nigeria, bolstered by President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 into law on June 4, 2024.
During the handover ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reiterated the Service’s mandate to safeguard the nation’s borders through intelligence-driven operations. He emphasized the critical role of the NCS in intercepting illegal arms and ammunition, linking such seizures to the broader fight against domestic security threats fueled by transnational smuggling networks.
Adeniyi highlighted past successes, including a major interception in May 2018, when the Service seized 440 pump-action rifles and accessories concealed within 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement. He detailed the forensic and diplomatic efforts that led to the identification and prosecution of the smugglers, stating:
“We deployed forensic capabilities to analyze customs documentation and shipping records. Through diplomatic engagement with the Turkish Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we traced the purchasing company. The investigation, supported by financial records obtained through court orders, identified those behind the illegal shipment.”
The Comptroller-General also noted the successful prosecution of the case (Suit No: FHC/L/339C/2018) before the Federal High Court in Lagos, which resulted in the conviction of Great James Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeuwa Moses Christ, and Emeka Umeh Festus (A.K.A. Amankwa) on eight counts.
“This prosecution success reinforces our zero-tolerance stance against arms trafficking,” Adeniyi declared.
Adeniyi described the latest handover as a testament to the NCS’s commitment to the proper disposal of seized arms and its resolve to rid the nation of illegal weapons.
“This symbolises the Service’s commitment to proper disposal of seized arms and our resolve to rid our nation of illegal weapons. We will continue collaborating with relevant authorities to strengthen our borders and protect our nation,” he stated.
Representing the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of NCCSALW, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), praised the NCS for its dedication to national security. He recalled a significant seizure in July 2024, when the Service intercepted 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition at Onne Port, Port Harcourt.
“The recovered weapons were promptly handed over to the National Centre, and suspects, including the principal suspect, Ali Samson Ofoma, along with nine accomplices, were arrested in Abuja and are now facing prosecution,” Kokumo said.
He also outlined the Centre’s broader mandate, which includes implementing strategies and policies, collaborating with law enforcement and international bodies such as ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN, managing a national weapons database, and securing recovered arms to prevent security risks.
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Kokumo reaffirmed the National Security Adviser’s commitment to supporting the Centre’s efforts:
“Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has provided the necessary support for the Centre to perform its core functions, mitigating threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. Our collective efforts will continue to build a safer Nigeria.”
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