GUARDIAN: Who owns the guns?

Ordinarily, the interception and seizure of a truckload of pump action rifles by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) should be a cause for cheers and commendation for the vigilance and alertness displayed by the officers at their duty post. However, amidst lingering terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities, impounding 661 smuggled dangerous weapons raises serious questions about the security of lives and property in the country.

According to reports, the consignment said to have originated from China through Turkey, was intercepted by a roving team of customs officers along the Mile 2 – Apapa Road, Lagos. Questions: Who is importing or smuggling in pump action rifles? What purpose did such a person seek to achieve by the importation? How did these rifles successfully find their way into the country without interception before now? Is it the case that there might have been some compromise with security operatives at the port of origin, ports of transit and port of destination? Instead of applause, this incident raises fear and apprehension.

Only six months ago, the United Nations raised alarm over the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in West Africa. A report from one of its agencies, at the time, stated that Nigeria accounted for about 350 million of the 500 million small arms circulating in the region; that is, 70 per cent of illicit weapons circulating in the sub-region are domiciled in Nigeria.

Despite the efforts of the Customs personnel, there is still need to query this latest mode of operation. How, despite pre-inspection at the port of origin, did this consignment pass? Would it have been the case that there was collusion between officials at the port of origin and representatives of the importer? Nigerians are aware of the amount of money spent in acquiring hi-tech scanners for the ports, and as such officers can observe goods when being loaded, track them, and then stop its movement. Why wasn’t this the case until the consignment hit the street before it was apprehended?

Complex and highly networked as the illegal arms industry is, its dangerous proliferation in developing countries could be addressed through diplomatic means. Although the arms industry is sophisticated and run by the elite, such a sophisticated industry cannot exist outside the watch of national regulatory bodies and organisations. Those who run the business and organise the market are very well known people to the political authorities or state actors. In the same vein, the legal procedures for importation of arms as well as the means of circumventing the law are common knowledge to law enforcement agencies.

Notwithstanding this latest modest outing, there is the complaint of low quality intelligence at the Customs Service, no thanks to the character of some of its personnel. In the minds of the average Nigerian there is the misconception that the NCS is a financially self-enriching profession, where all-comers recommended by some godfathers can make a living. This is an indictment of an agency that occupies the nation’s ‘front desk’ position.

This unpleasant incident has exposed systemic gaps in our ports and border security system. That the interception became public knowledge might have well been a case of a deal gone awry. Whilst praises from Nigerians should encourage the officers of the NCS to be more relentless in tracking down illegal importation and smuggling of weapons and other contraband goods, and then handing culprits over to prosecuting authorities, there is also need to sanitise the Customs. The false idea that the NCS is an exclusive profession reserved for a section of the country, and the consequent politicking of the activities of the operatives should be adequately addressed. There is need for highly trained and competent officers to affect the quality of intelligence at the nation’s ports and borders. With this, even though there may be leakages, such leakages would be drastically reduced.

Whilst this newspaper commends both the prompt detention of incriminated officers and other elements in the arms drama and the immediate commencement of a probe, relevant authorities should carry out a census of arms in circulation and recover illegal ones. However, for lasting resolution, authorities must go beyond local measures and appeal to international forces. Being a signatory to the United Nations treaty on the non-proliferation of small arms, Nigeria has a moral duty to ensure that the distribution of small arms reduces to the barest minimum if not totally eradicated. Countries that share the same aspirations towards non-proliferation of small arms could also establish collaborative efforts to address this in the best possible ways.

 

Source: The Guardian

UPDATE: Officers held as Customs seize 661 rifles in Lagos.

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted a container loaded with 49 boxes of 661 pump-action rifles along the Mile 2 Apapa Road of Lagos State.

The 40-foot container, which was cleared at the Lagos port, was intercepted by Customs officials who were on patrol.

The officials were said to have discovered that although the manifest said the container had “steel doors and other merchandise goods,” boxes of the weapons were concealed deep in the container.

Our correspondent was told that the rifles, tagged, ‘JOJEFF made in Italy,’ could take up to 10 cartridges and could wreak a lot of havoc.

Other items found in the container were diapers, office cabinet, towels, mattresses, soft drinks, toiletries, among others.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), during a press conference on Monday at the FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, said the container came from China but was routed through Turkey to “cause confusion.”

He explained that three suspects, Oscar Okafor (importer), Mahmud Hassan (clearing agent) and Sadique Mustapha (escort) had been arrested.

He said the suspects were undergoing interrogations at the agency’s office and would not be paraded until their culpability was established.

He said, “On Sunday, January 22, 2017, the roving team of the NCS, Federal Operations Unit, while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with number plate, BDG 265 XG, conveying one by the 40-foot container with a number: PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2 Apapa Road.

“The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU Zone A, Ikeja, where physical examination revealed 49 boxes containing a total of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods. In the declaration of the items in the container, the importer concealed the weapons and declared them as still doors.

“These rifles are under absolute prohibition; therefore, their importation is illegal. The importation and transaction of pump-action are totally against the law of this nation.

“Such a deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country. We have kidnappers and armed robbers and there is an insurgency, it is more intense. There are also the cattle rustlers, who are also using the same weapon. So, they are deadly.”

Ali explained that investigations had commenced into how the truck escaped the vigilance of Customs officers at the port, adding that all officers involved in the clearance were in detention.

He noted that the importer, exporter, escort, officials of the agency and others, would be prosecuted at the end of investigations.

Ali called for vigilance among residents, saying it was important that people shared information with security agencies on the movement of suspicious items.

He said, “One of the important roles we play is the security of Nigerians. And the only way we can do this is to ensure that things like this don’t get into the country. Where they find their way in, we must ensure the importers don’t enjoy the illegality. This is why our men are all over the place.

“However, we need the assistance of the public because these things do happen. Imagine if this truck had escaped and had been offloaded by some people. They will be transferred and if we don’t get information, there is no way we can apprehend them. In the end, you and I will be affected by this. It could fall into the hand of an armed robber or a kidnapper and there will be a problem.

“This is why the security network of this country must involve everybody. We must ensure we give the prerequisite information. Without information, we won’t be able to do anything. This happened because we got information and our men acted promptly.”

Ali described the seizure as one of the biggest feats the agency had recorded in 2017, promising to reward the officials who carried out the operation.

While fielding questions from journalists, Ali admitted that there were problems with the nation’s scanners at the borders.

He said most of the scanners were faulty, adding that the agency was working towards resolving the problem.

He said, “We have problems with the scanners. Most of the scanners are not working. We realised that while a few of them can be repaired, the majority are bad. And I need not tell you that paucity of funds has been part of the problems. But you will start seeing changes as we are working hard to resolve the problem.”

UPDATE: Customs Intercept Container Carrying 661 Pieces of Pump Action Rifles.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 661 pieces of pump action rifles from China, concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods, which came in through Lagos port.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Alli, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

Alli said that the Federal Operations Unit, while on patrol, intercepted a Mark truck with registration number BUG 265 XG conveying a 40ft container with number; PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2 Apapa Road, Lagos.

The comptroller-general said the truck was immediately taken to F.O.U. premises for physical examination and 49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors were revealed.

Alli said the rifles were under absolute prohibition, adding that its importation was illegal.

“Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.

“Already three suspects have been arrested in connection with this illegal importation,’’ NAN quotes the comptroller-general as saying.

The suspects are: Mr Oscan Okafor (an importer), Mr Mahmud Haruna (a clearing agent), Mr Sadique Mustapha (accompanying the consignment to its destination).

Alli said initially the consignment was said to have originated from Turkey, adding that there was mixed-up in the document which finally revealed that the consignment originated from China.

“Investigation has already commenced and I have directed that the drag net should be wide enough to fish out all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment, ‘’ NAN quotes Alli as saying.

He said Customs officers who were involved in the clearance of the containers were in the custody of Comptroller Mahmud Haruna of FOU Zone “A’’

Alli said that the seizure underscored the determination of the service to enforce all laws relating to importation and exportation of goods into and out the country thereby contributing to the economy, security and well-being of the country.

The comptroller-general said that the seizure was commendable and represented the new normal rule in the service “where most officers and men are on a daily basis ensuring that illegalities are not allowed unchecked’’.

He commended the Comptroller in charge of F.O.U. and officers and men who were involved in the seizure.

Alli, however, urged the media as well as meaningful Nigerians to help the service with information that would assist the service perform its statutory responsibilities in the interest of Nigeria.

He said the seizure would be handed over to the appropriate authority.

BREAKING: Nigeria Customs Service intercepts huge cache of pump action rifles.

Information reaching Omojuwa.Com has it that Nigeria Customs Service has just intercepted a huge cache of pump action rifles concealed in a 40ft container at the Lagos Ports.

 

As at the moment of filing this report, it is still unclear who the importer of this consignment is and what the weapons are for. However, there may be no connection between this incident and the seizure of two military-type helicopters some days ago, reportedly ordered by the Rivers State Government under Rotimi Amaechi. The helicopters have since then been handed over to the Nigerian Airforce.

 

Omojuwa.Com awaits further information on the issue as men of the Nigerian Customs Service are already carrying out detailed investigation into the importation details of the consignment.

 

More details later…