1,599 Firearms, 2,298 Cartridges Seized by Customs Handed Over to NCCSALW
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), underscoring the government’s commitment to curbing illegal arms proliferation.
The weapons, confiscated in 2018 from three containers at the Tin Can Island Port, were formally transferred to NCCSALW on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the headquarters of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the ceremony, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the agency’s determination to safeguard national security by preventing illicit arms smuggling.
“We will spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise our national security through arms trafficking,” Adeniyi stated.
He praised the professionalism of Customs officers involved in the seizures and commended the Forensics Unit for securing convictions related to the case. Adeniyi also reaffirmed the Service’s dual role in facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring strict border security.
The Director-General of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Babatunde, received the weapons on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. He assured that the items would be managed in compliance with international standards.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS Convention, and we will not do anything short of international best practice,” Babatunde affirmed.
He further urged security agencies and stakeholders to maintain vigilance and strengthen collaboration in the fight against illicit arms trafficking.
Comments