customs-seize-rifles
The seized rifles on display by the Nigeria Customs Service. (Photo: Nigeria Customs Service)

Men of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday made a major seizure of guns smuggled into Nigeria through the Apapa Port in Lagos. The guns totaling 661 pieces of pump action rifles were packed in 49 boxes and concealed under steel doors and other goods in a container.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmed Ali, who personally displayed the seized rifles at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja said the confiscated items were being conveyed in a Mack truck with registration number BDG -265-XG on the Mile 2-Apapa Road, which was stopped by a moving team of customsmen.

Three men were arrested with the truck. Ali named them as Mr. Oscar Okafor (51) who is the importer; Mr. Mahmud Hassan (56), the clearing agent and Sadique Mustapha who was escorting the goods to their destination.

The Comptroller-General disclosed that all the officers involved in the clearance of the container were already in detention at FOU Zone ‘A’ Ikeja. He also said he had directed that all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment should be fished out.

Referring to the seized rifles as most deadly, he said: “These rifles are under absolute prohibition, therefore their importation is illegal. Such a deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.

“Considering the fragile security situation in the country where we have kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents, even the cattle rustlers are using the same deadly weapon, the customs has intensified its anti-smuggling operations. Our job is to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure and we will continue to track them.”