The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has handed over 189,000 rounds of live ammunition seized from suspected illicit arms dealers to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for necessary action.
The ammunition was intercepted by Customs personnel during a routine patrol at Wawa village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Comptroller of the Niger/Kogi Area Command, Sani Mohammed Umar, said the seized ammunition had remained in the custody of the service since 2018 due to litigation arising from the seizure.
Umar warned that the circulation of such a large quantity of illegal ammunition could have devastating consequences, particularly at a time when the country is facing serious security challenges.
He said, “the consignment comprised 7,560 packages, with each package containing 25 rounds, bringing the total to 189,000 rounds of live ammunition.”
ALSO READ: NDA releases 78th Regular Combatant Course admission list
According to him, the interception underscored the importance of sustained surveillance and effective border control in preventing the movement of illicit arms and ammunition into the country.
In his response, the North-Central Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, Abdul Adamu Eneche, commended the Customs Service for handing over the seized ammunition and described the development as a demonstration of effective synergy among security agencies.
Eneche, who represented the Director-General of the Centre, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), said the illegal ammunition would undergo the required procedures before being destroyed.
He explained that the destruction was necessary to prevent the seized ammunition from finding its way back into the hands of criminals.
“I am optimistic that stronger cooperation, information sharing, effective border control and public awareness would reduce the availability of illegal arms in the hands of criminal groups,” he said.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV