Customs Names Importers of 399 Pump-Action Rifles, Hands Over Weapons to NSA Office

Nigeria Customs Names Importers of 399 Pump-Action Rifles, Hands Over Weapons to NSA Office

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has publicly identified the importers behind the recent shipment of 399 fully assembled JOJEF pump-action rifles and assorted firearm components intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, as both suspects remain in custody pending their court arraignment.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the names during the formal handover of the seized arms to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Lagos on Monday. According to the Customs chief, the importers behind the illicit consignment are Robert Eze and Ejiogu Godson. Both individuals are now in custody following their arrest in connection with the illegal shipment. Customs operatives arrested one of the suspects on July 31, 2026, at a bonded terminal while he was allegedly attempting to secure the release of the container containing the prohibited firearms. The two suspects have been remanded by the Federal High Court in Lagos, with their arraignment scheduled for August 25, 2026.

The interception occurred after the NCS risk-management system flagged the container for inspection upon arrival at Tincan Island Port aboard the vessel MV Velika on July 8, 2026. Adeniyi placed particular emphasis on the role of technology in the seizure, explaining that Customs could not physically open every container arriving in the country. “Look carefully at what is laid out on these tables. 399 rifles. Somebody paid for them. Somebody arranged their shipment. Somebody was waiting at this end to collect them. And somebody, somewhere in this country, was going to be on the wrong end of them,” Adeniyi said. The Comptroller-General revealed that the firearms had been deliberately dismantled and concealed among the contents of the container in an apparent attempt to make them more difficult to detect. “It was opened because our risk management system flagged it. Inside were firearm components, taken apart and hidden in knocked-down form. That is a deliberate method. It is chosen for one reason only, which is that a rifle in pieces does not look like a rifle,” he explained.

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Following detailed examination and assembly of recovered components, Customs confirmed the discovery of 399 fully assembled patrol rifles alongside a significant quantity of supplementary rifle parts. Among the additional components recovered were 89 frames, 80 charging handles, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips/handguards, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 25 locking lugs, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, four pistol grips, five barrels, and three pistons.

Following the complete inventory and assessment of the illicit shipment, the Customs Service handed over the seized armaments to the Director-General of the NCCSALW under the Office of the National Security Adviser. Adeniyi confirmed that the two arrested suspects are also being transferred to the Office of the NSA for further investigation. In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the NCCSALW, Mr Johnson Kokumo, revealed that the Centre has received 21,000 Small Arms and Light Weapons since inception, while over 19,000 have been destroyed. He commended the Comptroller General of Customs for his astute leadership, professionalism, and patriotism often demonstrated in all operations of the Nigeria Customs that have led to the recovery of illicit weapons at different times. Kokumo stated: “Illicit weapons taken out of the hands of non state actors is a direct blow to criminal networks and a vital step toward safeguarding innocent citizens.” He assured that the weapons would be managed to the highest standards and will be accounted for, ensuring that they do not find their way back into the hands of criminal elements, in strict compliance with national legislation and international best practices.

Adeniyi warned that criminal networks could seek to exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports, and airports ahead of the next general elections to move prohibited items into the country. He assured Nigerians that the service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent such activities. “We are about entering a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so,” Adeniyi said. The Customs chief reaffirmed the service’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance, and collaboration with sister security agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks and safeguard national security. He also warned Customs personnel against colluding with arms traffickers, saying officers who facilitate the movement of illicit weapons would not receive protection from the service.

Customs Names Importers of 399 Pump-Action Rifles, Hands Over Weapons to NSA Office