The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has handed over 399 fully assembled Jojef rifles seized at the Tincan Island Port Command to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with journalists on the outcome of the seizure and subsequent investigation.
Adeniyi said Customs had completed the coupling, inventory and detailed examination of the consignment, which was found to contain 399 assembled firearms and several additional rifle components.
The recovered parts include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
Following the assessment, the seized weapons were formally handed over to the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, under the Office of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Customs boss said the development underscores the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and stronger collaboration among security agencies to curb the trafficking of illegal arms and protect national security.
He also warned that criminal networks could attempt to exploit Nigeria's borders, seaports and airports to smuggle prohibited items ahead of the country's next general elections.
Adeniyi assured Nigerians that the Customs Service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the movement of illicit weapons and other prohibited items.
He said, “We are about entering a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so.”
Meanwhile, the two suspects arrested during the preliminary investigation have been taken over by the Office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The handover reinforces inter-agency efforts to remove illicit firearms from circulation, disrupt arms-trafficking networks and prevent dangerous weapons from reaching criminal elements.
