The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Kogi State government over the illegal importation of military hardware into the country.

While condemning the act, the Reps said the NCS is to explain why it demanded the importer to go and procure End-User Certificate from the National Security Adviser instead of arresting him, knowing that he was not constitutionally empowered to procure arms under any guise.

The House mandated its standing Committees on Customs, National Security and Public Safety to carry out a full-scale investigation into the matter with a view to unraveling the motives behind the illegal importation.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of Urgent National Importance sponsored by Hon. Karimi Sunday at Thursday’s plenary titled ‘Urgent Need to Check the Importation of Firearms and Military Equipment into the Country by Politicians and Private Citizens.”

Hon. Karimi, while moving for a thorough investigation into the matter stated that if such dangerous trends where state governors and private citizens import arms under the guise of equipping the military, the security of lives and property of innocent Nigerians would be put at risk.

The military items allegedly imported by the Kogi State government included 100 pieces of military camouflage, 26 pieces of military camouflage jungle boots, 20 pieces of plastic knives, 24 pieces of black bullet-proof vests, 28 black boxing gloves, 26 pieces of arctic hunting bags, 40 pieces of training mats, 20 pieces of black batons, 100 pieces of black T-shirts, 31 pieces of protective glosses, 25 pieces of black protective sunglasses and 29 pieces of black uniforms among others.