Nigeria is struggling with a major rise in the importation of illegal arms and ammunition, which has occurred 23 times over the past seven years, according to a report by Daily Trust.
These illicit shipments, worth billions of naira, have infiltrated the country through various land and sea borders, sparking growing concerns among Nigerians and security experts about the impact on national security, particularly in the North-West and North-East regions.
Security officials have linked the surge in illegal arms to the escalating security challenges, especially in areas battling insurgency and banditry. While the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been applauded for its efforts in intercepting many of these weapons, experts are urging the government to go further by identifying and prosecuting those responsible for smuggling the arms into the country.
On July 1, 2024, NCS officers in Rivers State intercepted a container packed with weapons, ammunition, and drugs valued at N13.9 billion. The seized items included 844 rifles, 112,500 rounds of live ammunition, and large quantities of illegal drugs.
The arms, hidden among furniture and plumbing materials, originated from Turkey and were tracked by Customs based on risk factors and intelligence collaboration with international agencies.
Data reveals that between 2017 and 2024, illegal arms worth billions entered Nigeria 23 times, with many of these weapons still unaccounted for. Smugglers have used key entry points like Tin Can Island and Apapa ports in Lagos, and land borders in Enugu, Cross River, Kwara, and Ogun states, among others.
These illicit arms have been linked to various seizures, including pump action rifles, bomb-making materials, and ammunition, highlighting the scope of the smuggling operations.
In 2017 alone, multiple seizures were made at Lagos ports, with over 1,600 rifles and bomb materials intercepted. Similar operations occurred in 2018, where ammunition, knives, and military gear were confiscated.
This trend continued in the following years, with significant interceptions recorded in Oyo, Cross River, and Anambra states, as well as at Lagos ports. The most recent major seizure occurred in July 2024, when arms, ammunition, and drugs valued at over N2 billion were confiscated.
Security experts have warned that the increasing inflow of illicit arms poses a grave threat to the nation’s stability.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed that investigations into the identities of the arms smugglers are ongoing.
According to NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, the intercepted weapons have been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the NSA’s Office for further action.
The NCCSALW assured the public that the seized weapons will be properly documented and destroyed to prevent them from posing a threat to society.
Three suspects are currently in custody, with further investigations underway to ensure all those involved are brought to justice.