By George Omagbemi
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday, August 17, 2026, handed over 399 seized firearms to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Lagos.
The firearms were recovered from a consignment intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port, where Customs officers discovered firearm components concealed in a container.
Following detailed examination and reassembly, the shipment was found to contain 399 fully assembled Jojef pump-action rifles and 535 assorted firearm components.
Adeniyi said the container arrived at the port on July 8, 2026, aboard the vessel MV Velika and was flagged for inspection by the Customs risk-management system.
The weapons had reportedly been dismantled and concealed in knocked-down form in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Two suspects linked to the consignment, identified as Robert Eze and Ejiogu Godson, were arrested and remanded by a Federal High Court in Lagos. Their arraignment is scheduled for August 25, 2026.
Receiving the weapons, NCCSALW Director-General Babatunde Kokumo said the Centre would catalogue and manage the seized firearms in line with national security procedures.
Adeniyi warned that criminal networks could attempt to exploit Nigeria’s ports, borders and airports, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.
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