Customs intercept containers carrying arms worth N13.9bn

The Nigeria Customs Service said its operatives intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items including arms, ammunition, Illicit drugs and second-hand clothes worth N13.9 billion.

The Comptroller-General, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Onne Port, Rivers State.

Adeniyi said one of the containers which originated from Turkey, based on the number of risk factors associated with the importation, became a subject of interest to the service.

Giving details of the container, the CG said, “We have followed its sail across continents and we’ve benefitted immensely from credible information through our collaboration with intelligence communities both at local, national and international levels,”

According to him, the importer tried to circumvent the procedure through the outlet of a private-bonded terminal.

“On Friday 21st of June 2024, the auspicious container was subjected to a thorough physical examination. Inside the container were 844 units of assorted riffles and 12,500 pieces of life ammunition,” which Adeniyi said were “concealed with various items like doors, furniture fittings and leather bags.”

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The NCS boss stated that the duty-paid value of the container was N4.2bn.

24 female suicide bombers hiding in Borno communities, two arrested – Report

There are fears among residents of Gwoza and other communities in Borno State after four female suicide detonated Improvised Explosive Devices at different locations on Sunday killing 18 people and many injured.

Although security operatives have swung into action leading to the arrest of two female suicide bombers in the state, there are reports that 24 others could still be lurking around.

This indication emerged on Monday following a report that 30 female suicide bombers were unleashed on the Borno city to cause explosion in different places on Sunday.

A local government official who confirmed this to Channels Television said out of 30 female suicide bombers sent into Gwoza to detonate the IEDs, only four exploded so far.

She explained that one of the female bombers that came from Pulka Axis was responding to military interrogation at the checkpoint when she panicked and detonated the IED killing herself, the soldier and a civilian JTF member.

It was gathered that the women got into Gwoza from different locations, some from Pulka and others from the Mandara mountains.

The attack, one of the deadliest reported in the state in recent months, injured more than 30 persons. The degree of injuries ranges from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.

The Director-General of SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, said he witnessed the first blast.

“In my presence, at about 3pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony celebration,” he wrote in a situation report later in the day.

“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.”

The wedding was held at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town.

A survivor said the first bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.

As people gathered to bury those killed at the wedding, Saidu said a third bomber, a lady, detonated another IED with a lot of casualties.

While emergency officials were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, a fourth blast was set off by a female teenager.

“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said.

At the time he released the situation report, he said 23 were waiting for military escort “in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic”.

The evacuation of the injured continued into the night with the SEMA DG, who was in Gwoza when the attacks occurred, coordinating the process from there.

He also said he had received a report of a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka but did not provide further details about that.

The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA in the wake of the attacks.

12 Ajayi Crowther University students accused of murder released

Twelve out of the 25 students of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan for alleged murder were on Monday discharged.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 25 students, arraigned on June 5, were charged with conspiracy, murder and negligence.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, had ordered the students to be remanded in a correctional facility in Ibadan, pending the outcome of legal advice.

The 12 discharged students are: Kehinde Martins, Samuel Okorie, Mustapha Khalid, Yusuf Adeniran, Joseph Areoye, Iyanuoluwa Oyelakin, Obaloluwa Olalekan, Emmanuel Adejumobi, John Daudu, Moses Abiola, Hammad Tijani and David Kolawole.

Ogunkanmi, while discharging them, held that the legal advice was out, which indicated that the 12 students should not be charged with any offence, as there was no evidence linking any of them with the offences alleged to have been committed.

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