The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over a cache of smuggled arms and ammunition intercepted by its officers to the office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

While the exact value of the seized weapons was not disclosed, officials confirmed that a total of 1,599 assorted firearms and 2,298 live cartridges were transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Lagos on Thursday.

The development comes as part of ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms in the country. Notably, in less than two years after assuming office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 into law on June 4, 2024.

Security experts view this swift legislative move as a testament to the President?s firm commitment to strengthening national security and ensuring lasting peace across Nigeria.

Addressing reporters during the official handing over ceremony of seized arms and ammunition at the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ?A?, Ikeja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the service has the mandate of protecting national borders through targeted anti-smuggling operations and precise intelligence-driven interventions.

The track record of the service in intercepting illegal arms and ammunition, Adeniyi said, underscores their frontline role in maintaining national security.

The seizure, the CGC said, coincided with heightened security challenges from armed bandits in the North-West and illegal arms proliferation in the South-East, revealing the linkage between transnational smuggling networks and our domestic security challenges.

Through sustained intelligence operations, Adeniyi said, ?In May 2018, the Service intercepted a significant cache of arms consisting of 440 pump action rifles and accessories, ingeniously concealed within 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement in a 1x20ft container with number PONU210024/1.

?We also intercepted two additional containers ? CMAU 189817/8 and GESU 255208/1 at Tin-Can Island Port, similarly concealing arms and ammunition among sanitary wares. Today?s handover encompasses a total of 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges recovered from these operations.

Following this seizure, the Customs boss said, ?We deployed forensic capabilities to conduct detailed electronic analysis of customs documentation and shipping records. Through established diplomatic channels, we partnered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage the Turkish Embassy, leading to the definitive identification of the purchasing company. The investigation trail, supported by financial records obtained through court orders, enabled us to establish the identities of those behind this illegal arms shipment.

Through strategic inter-agency cooperation, particularly with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Adeniyi added, ?We successfully prosecuted the case (Suit No: FHC/L/339C/2018) before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The defendants ? Great James Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeuwa Moses Christ, and Emeka Umeh Festus A.K.A (Amankwa) ? were convicted on eight count charges. This prosecution success reinforces the Service?s zero-tolerance stance against arms trafficking and validates the effectiveness of our judicial collaboration. Our proven investigative and prosecutorial approach is currently being applied to recent seizures at the Port of Onne, where ongoing investigations continue to yield significant progress within established legal frameworks.

?Our integrated strategy combining thorough investigation, decisive prosecution, and successful conviction has proven effective in dismantling smuggling networks. Let me be clear ? the Service will spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise our national security through arms trafficking. We stand ready to deploy our full arsenal of intelligence and enforcement capabilities to protect legitimate trade while ensuring Nigeria?s security interests remain paramount.?

While saluting the professionalism and courage of his officers who work tirelessly, often in challenging circumstances, to protect our borders, he gave kudos to other ?agencies who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in this fight ? your support has been instrumental in these achievements. Together, we continue to build formidable barriers against those who threaten our national security,? Adeniyi said.

The handover of the weapons to NCCSALW yesterday, Adeniyi said, ?symbolizes the service?s commitment to proper disposal of seized arms and highlights our resolve to rid our nation of illegal weapons. We will continue the ongoing collaborations with relevant authorities to strengthen our borders and protect our nation.?

In his address, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu who was represented by the Director General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd) gave kudos to the leadership of Customs Service for its steadfast determination, which he said, was ?key to our collective fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.

According to Kokomo, ?I recall with pride the notable arms bust of July 2024 when the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition at Onne, Port Harcourt. The recovered weapons were promptly handed over to the National Centre, and importantly, suspects including the principal suspect, Ali Samson Ofoma, along with nine accomplices (Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi, and Akinkuade Mayowa Segun among others) were subsequently arrested in Abuja and are now facing prosecution.

Their apprehension, he said, ?underscores the critical role of our coordinated efforts and reinforces why agencies must continue channelling intercepted arms to the Centre.?

Regarding yesterday?s handover of intercepted illicit arms by the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Centre, said it will take all necessary measures, in line with relevant conventions and best practices, to permanently remove these weapons from circulation.

Since its establishment on the 3rd of May 2021, the National Centre has spearheaded multi-stakeholder initiatives to curb the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons. We have engaged with ministries, security agencies, international partners, and civil society organisations alike to advance our mission of building a safer, more secure Nigeria and West Africa.

?Notably, within a short period after assuming office, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces), signed the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 into law on 4 June 2024. This swift legislative action underscores the President?s unwavering commitment to ensuring peace and tranquillity in Nigeria and demonstrates the premium he places on national security for all Nigerians.

Kokumo emphasised that the Centre?s mandate extends, ?far beyond merely receiving illegally acquired arms. As the leading organization for controlling the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria, the National Centre implements and supervises strategies and policies, collaborates with law enforcement and international bodies (including ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN), manages a national database of weapons, and secures recovered arms. Additionally, the Centre serves as the custodian of other categories including obsolete stockpiles held by various arms-bearing agencies-which, no longer serving any operational purpose, must be removed from armouries to eliminate potential security risks under international best practices and relevant treaties.

?By effectively managing the entire lifecycle of small arms and light weapons from registration and tracking to seizure and destruction, the Centre, he said, actively strengthens our collective security and aligns with global efforts to combat the illicit trade in arms.

?The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been steadfast in his commitment to our national security, providing the necessary support and enabling environment for the Centre to perform its core functions, thereby mitigating threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, pipeline vandalism, and other challenges to our national peace and stability. The National Centre remains grateful to him for his leadership and support,? Kokumo said. (The Nation)

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