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Police recover 1,889 machine guns, RPG, AK 47, others

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Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba

Barely one week after the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted a container loaded with firearms and ammunition at the Tin Can port in Lagos, the police have said they recovered no less than 1,889 weapons and 52,577 rounds of live ammunition between January and December, 2021.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, CP Frank Mba, told our correspondent in an interview on Thursday that the recovered weapons include General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket-Propelled Grenade, variants of Avtomat Kalashnikov, with the popular ones being AK-47 and AK-49, and some locally-fabricated weapons.

Mba noted that some of the arms in circulation were produced in illegal arms manufacturing factories operating in the country, noting however that the police would continue to bring the perpetrators to book.

There have been public disquiet and deep concerns over the influx and proliferation of firearms across the country, which has been attributed to the country’s porous borders and corruption by the agencies at the borders. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said only God could “effectively supervise” Nigeria’s 1,400km border with Niger Republic.

The arms proliferation is said to be fuelling the raging insecurity, including the banditry in the North-West, Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and kidnapping and killings in other parts of the country.

Saturday PUNCH reported on December 18 that no fewer than 849 persons were killed by bandits within the past five months in Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina states.

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The President had on different occasions attributed the influx of arms into the country to the crisis in Libya and activities of the close associates of Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in 2011.

In March, the President also lamented that despite the closure of land borders in 2019, arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally and that as long as Libya remains unstable, the problem would remain.

Meanwhile, Mba said, “The proliferation is of major concern to the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and even our counterparts in the law enforcement community. To underscore the importance FG attaches to this issue, there is a special committee working on how to tackle the proliferation of such weapons.

“Between January and now, not less than 1,887 firearms, mostly of the Kalashinov family, General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket-Propelled Grenade and locally-fabricated weapons were recovered by the police. Also, 52,577 rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

“On our part, we have adopted a multifaceted approach in dealing with this problem. We do auditing of the arms with those who are licensed to ensure nobody is parading a licence that is illegally obtained or parading a weapon and claiming to have a licence that does not exist.

“We understand that a certain quantity of the illegal arms in circulation are products of illegal arms manufacturing factories in the country. To the best of my knowledge, we have only one legitimate arms manufacturer in Nigeria, which is Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria.

“Any other person claiming to be manufacturing weapons in Nigeria is doing so illegally. We carry out intelligence-driven and target-oriented raids on places where we suspect that arms are being illegally manufactured. In the last one year, we have been able to burst a lot of these illicit arms manufacturing factories, particularly in Plateau and other parts of the country.”

He said the police also carry out raids on criminal hideouts to arrest the criminals and recover their weapons, thereby reducing the illegal arms in circulation and weakening the firepower of the criminal elements.

“We have been able to identify, crack and dismantle a lot of international smuggling syndicates by working with Interpol and colleagues in neighbouring countries,” he added.

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The President, while speaking in September at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, called for the regulation of arms and light weapons trade in the interest of human rights.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him as saying, “Nigeria remains deeply concerned about the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons. Their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world are having devastating humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, especially on the continent of Africa.

 “It is on this note that my delegation calls for the worldwide application of the Arms Trade Treaty to codify accountability in the conventional arms trade, which is critical to the security of nations. This is in recognition of the need for a broad-based global partnership in the ongoing battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and piracy.”

Yuletide: IG orders tight security, visible policing

To strengthen security nationwide during the Yuletide, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to initiate coordinated crime prevention strategies and ensure round-the-clock patrol across the country.

The IG in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, on Friday noted that achieving a crisis-free Yuletide was of utmost priority to the Force and the nation.

He further noted that the AIGs and CPs had been directed to massively deploy human, intelligence and other operational assets at their disposal to all public places, including residential areas, places of worship, recreational centres, financial institutions, market places, motor parks, major highways, airports, railway stations, amongst others, to protect citizens and critical national infrastructure.

The statement titled, ‘2021 Christmas and New Year celebrations: IGP orders round-the-clock visibility patrol,’ added, “In addition, the IGP has warned police personnel deployed for duty during the Yuletide, particularly those deployed to secure the highways across the country, to desist from acts inimical to discipline and professionalism.

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 “The IGP equally enjoined citizens to cooperate with officers deployed for the assignments, especially by being law-abiding. He noted that the Force remains sensitive to issues of rights violations, illegitimate use of force and has since deployed the Monitoring Unit, X-Squad and the Force Provost Unit on joint operation nationwide with a view to monitoring conduct of officers as citizens transit in and around the country during the festive season and holidays.”

While congratulating Christians in the country on the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Christ, the IG thanked all Nigerians for supporting the police and the security community in the fight against criminality.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command says it has mapped out strategies to tackle kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Adewale Osifeso, on Friday in Ibadan, said the command, in its bid to rid the state of criminality, held a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday at Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.

She said deliberations centered on meaningful strategies to prevent incidents of kidnapping on Idi-Ayunre/Ibadan axis of the council, adding that the police would ensure increased visibility, deployment of more policing assets to the jurisdiction and implementation of other layers of supervision in the state.

The police commissioner assured law-abiding residents of the state of a crime-free and stress-free Christmas and New Year celebrations, while assuring the public of protecting anyone who offers credible information to the police.

He enjoined citizens to go about the celebration “in the spirit of love, sacrifice and to take protective measures to reduce exposure to security risks and the new wave of the COVID-19 variant”.

In Edo State, the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Kontongs Bello, said the Commissioner of Police, Phillip Ogbadu, directed the deployment of 3,000 personnel across the state.

Bello added, “We have massively deployed officers and men to churches, event centres and all security flashpoints across the state to ensure a peaceful and a hitch-free celebration before, during and after the festive period.”

The statement warned personnel conducting stop-and-search to refrain from extorting money from motorists. It said severe sanction would be meted out to anyone caught in the act.

NSCDC deploys 3,000 personnel in C’River, Plateau, Kebbi

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said on Friday that it deployed about 3,000 personnel in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi states to provide security throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities in the state.

In Cross River State, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Solomon Eremi, said the state commandant, Mr Samuel Fadeyi-Adekunle, directed the deployment of 1,000 personnel across the state.

“This is coming at the right time that the nation is going through a lot of security challenges of senseless violence,” the statement quoted Fadeyi-Adekunle as saying.

In Plateau State, the NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Chris Longbit, said the command deployed 1,500 personnel to ensure peaceful and crime-free Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.

“We wish to advise all citizens to be law-abiding and avoid any act that will lead to breaking of law and order and tempering with the relative peace enjoyed,” Longbit added.

In Kebbi State, the spokesperson, Akeem Babatunde-Adeyemi, said the state commandant, Mr Umar Musa-Bala, approved the deployment of 500 personnel to places of worship and strategic locations across the state.

The statement added, “Adequate deployments have been made to worship centres, recreational centres, motor parks and marketplaces. Critical national assets, infrastructure and illegal routes for diversion of petroleum products have also received adequate deployments.”

Act fast on security threats, SSANU tells FG

Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has called on the Federal Government to urgently confront the increasing security threats in the country.

It also called on Nigerians, especially Christian faithful, not to lose sight of the crux of Christmas, which is love for one another, peace, hope, love, goodwill and salvation.

The association in a Christmas message by its President, Mohammed Ibrahim, on Friday, said, “These values which Jesus symbolises are very much needed in our country at this time we are confronted with diverse challenges, like the spate of banditry, kidnappings, insurgency, economic hardship, the upsurge in COVID-19 infections and the inability of the government to keep to agreements entered into with unions.

“We must recommit to loving one another as preached by Jesus Christ. We must never abandon the vulnerable and less privileged members of our society. I urge the government and the security agencies to do more to checkmate the increasing incidents of security threats, especially in the northern part of the country as well as the entire country.”

SSANU called on the government “to make more efforts towards the restoration of security and prosperity to the country”.

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Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

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August 12, 2026

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Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials smuggled from Ghana, alongside 1,306 sacks of expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice and other contraband. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing where the Command also announced it had generated N19.84 billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has dealt a major blow to smuggling and cross-border criminal activities along the Nigeria-Ghana border with the interception of explosive materials, expired noodles, narcotics, foreign rice, cigarettes, and other prohibited items. The seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million, were unveiled at a press briefing by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.

In what has been described as a significant national security intervention, Customs officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor from Ghana. Kaila emphasised the grave danger these materials posed, stating that explosives of this nature could facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security. “Explosives of this nature have devastating consequences when they fall into the hands of criminal elements,” he warned. Due to the sensitive nature of the seizure, the explosive materials, alongside one suspect, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.

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The Command also intercepted a truck deceptively declared as carrying food items, which was found to contain 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. Kaila revealed that many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing, with intelligence indicating that smugglers intended to repackage and relabel them for sale to unsuspecting Nigerians. “Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications,” he said. The Customs boss described border security as a form of public health protection, stating that every Nigerian had been shielded from what could have become a silent public health disaster.

In the fight against illicit drugs, the Command seized 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg, and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes. Kaila described these as dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fuelling criminality, encouraging substance abuse, and undermining the future of young people. The illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products will be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action.

The Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, smuggled through illegal routes. According to Kaila, this illegal importation not only denied the government legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers. Other seized items included a used speedboat, a used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4, and a 2010 Nissan Versa.

The Command recorded significant revenue growth, generating N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, surpassing the N15.94 billion collected throughout the entire 2025 fiscal year. This represents a 24.45 per cent increase of N3.899 billion. Kaila attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement, improved operational efficiency, and intensified enforcement against smuggling. “This achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities,” he stated.

Kaila issued a stern warning to smugglers and economic saboteurs, declaring that Seme is no longer a safe corridor for illicit trade. He reiterated that the Command had intensified intelligence-driven operations and would continue collaborating with sister security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border. He commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also appreciating the media for its role in informing the public and promoting transparency and accountability in Customs operations.

Customs Intercept Explosives from Ghana, Expired Noodles in N365m Seme Border Crackdown

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Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

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August 12, 2026

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Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

Human rights lawyer calls for visa restrictions and other punitive measures against the Osun East senator, describing his alleged remarks as a dangerous incitement to violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has formally petitioned the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, urging them to impose sanctions on Senator Francis Fadahunsi over his controversial “kill Accord” comment. Adeyanju made this known while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, where he called on the three Western nations to consider visa restrictions and other appropriate measures against the Osun East senator.

The controversy stems from a viral video in which Senator Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , was heard speaking in Yoruba and allegedly urging his supporters to attack members of the rival Accord Party ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election. The video, which surfaced on social media, has sparked widespread outrage and heightened political tension in the state.

Adeyanju described the senator’s alleged remarks as “unfortunate” and “regrettably threatening,” arguing that they amounted to an attempt to encourage violence against members of the Accord Party. “Again, that takes me to the unfortunate remarks that we’ve just heard of Senator Fadahunsi, very regrettably threatening that members of the Accord Party be killed,” Adeyanju said on the programme. He maintained that it was “very clear” to him that the senator was allegedly engineering attacks against members of the party.

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The human rights lawyer said his petition was intended to draw the attention of the three countries, particularly the United States, which has consistently expressed interest in promoting democracy in Nigeria and has warned against political violence. He argued that international pressure could help discourage politicians from making inflammatory statements capable of provoking violence during elections. Adeyanju also called on all leading candidates in the Osun governorship race to publicly condemn threats and violence against political opponents.

Adeyanju expressed concern over the political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, saying the level of violence and tension preceding the poll was alarming. “For a very long time, we’ve not witnessed this level of violence preceding an election,” he said. His concerns are echoed by a pre-election security assessment by the Kimpact Development Initiative, which recorded 73 election-related violent incidents and 29 fatalities within its assessment period, with 78 per cent of incidents occurring between May and July 2026 as political campaigns intensified.

Senator Fadahunsi, however, has clarified his remarks, insisting that his comment was purely political and metaphorical. In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday and titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the senator explained that he was calling on APC supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful, and democratic means. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement read.

The senator’s media office maintained that the remark did not portray Fadahunsi as an advocate of violence against members of the Accord Party or any other political organisation. “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force,” the statement added. Fadahunsi also urged APC supporters and other political actors in the state to maintain peace and respect the law throughout the electoral process.

The development comes amid mounting tension in Osun State as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll. Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the banner of the Accord Party, has already called for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Fadahunsi over the alleged incitement to violence. The police have since summoned the senator for questioning over the viral comments, with the invitation letter dated August 11, 2026, ordering Fadahunsi to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 12, at 11:00 am.

Osun guber: Adeyanju petitions US, UK, Canada to sanction Fadahunsi over ‘kill accord’ comment

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Troops Neutralize Suspected Armed Herder, Recover AK-47 in Benue Community Attack

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August 12, 2026

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Troops Neutralize Suspected Armed Herder, Recover AK-47 in Benue Community Attack

Troops Neutralize Suspected Armed Herder, Recover AK-47 in Benue Community Attack

Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, working with the Nigeria Police Force, successfully repelled an attack by suspected armed herders in Benue State, killing one assailant and recovering a weapon along with ammunition.

Troops of Sector 1, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, have foiled an attack by suspected armed herders on Azege Village, Tombo Council Ward, in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The operation, which took place on Monday, August 10, 2026, successfully repelled the assault on the community.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Media Information Officer of the JTF, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, the troops responded to a distress call reporting an ongoing attack on Azege Community. Upon receiving the alert, the security forces swiftly mobilised to the area to confront the threat and restore security. On arrival, the troops made contact with the armed criminals and engaged them in a fierce gun battle.

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The statement explained that the assailants were overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower and subsequently fled in disarray. The troops immediately pursued the fleeing attackers and later discovered that one suspected armed herder had been neutralised during the encounter. Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle, one magazine loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and one Nokia mobile phone.

Lieutenant Zubairu confirmed that the recovered items have been secured, while the remains of the neutralised suspect were evacuated by the police. He added that efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the group who managed to escape from the scene. The Joint Task Force commended the troops for their tactical resilience and praised the Nigerian Police Force for its effective cooperation during the operation.

This operation occurred amid heightened security concerns across the state, with other reports confirming that suspected armed herders targeted a police checkpoint in Ayilamo, also within Logo Local Government Area, killing a police inspector before security forces intervened. The OPWS has advised residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities within their communities to security agencies. The military has also reiterated its commitment to restoring peace in Benue State, as part of ongoing efforts to curb banditry and other criminal activities across its areas of operation.

Troops Neutralize Suspected Armed Herder, Recover AK-47 in Benue Community Attack

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