Arms centre to destroy N4bn weapons seized by Customs

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons has said the large cache of arms and ammunition intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service would be destroyed after documentation has been completed.

The centre also confirmed that the customs had handed over the weapons to it.

The Nigerian Customs had during one of its operations intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 844 rifles and 112,500 live ammunition in Port Harcourt.

The arms and ammunition were said to have been skillfully concealed within items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings and leather bags.

The intercepted container was also reported to have originated from Turkey and its duty-paid value was put at N4bn.

In a statement on Monday, the centre’s Director, Strategic Communications and Information, Group Captain Pius Okwuego, said the handing over of the seized weapons was done in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

“The Nigerian Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, officially handed over the seized arms and ammunition to the NCCSALW today in Port Harcourt.

“This transfer is a significant step in the collaborative efforts between national
security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s borders and public safety,” the statement read.

Okwuego noted that the National Coordinator of the Centre, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Johnson Kokumo (retd.), said the weapons would be destroyed to prevent them from constituting a threat to society.

“This seizure is a testament to the
unwavering contributions of the Nigerian Customs Service to protect our
nation from the dangers posed by illicit arms. The NCCSALW will ensure
that these weapons are properly documented and destroyed to prevent
them from ever posing a threat to our society,” Kokumo was quoted as saying.