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Tag: arms

  • Two admit ‘illegal’ arms importation, bribery

    Two admit ‘illegal’ arms importation, bribery

    …Defendants to plead guilty
    Two men who were arraigned by the Federal Government for importing arms and ammunition without authorisation Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that they committed the offence.

    Oscar Okafor and Donatus Achinulo, were among five persons arraigned on June 14, told the court that they would change their plea from not guilty to guilty.

    The others are Mahmud Hassan, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma.

    They were accused of illegally importing double barrel shortguns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms).

    They were arraigned on nine counts of conspiracy to illegally import prohibited firearms, “uttering” of forged documents, bribery and importation of prohibited goods.

    All the defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.

    Justice Ayokunle Faji refused to grant them bail applications due to the gravity of the charges.

    Yesterday, Okafor and Achinulo (second and third defendants), who were represented by new counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN), said they would enter a guilty plea.

    Justice Faji directed them to notify the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) of their intention.

    Count one of the charge said the defendants “on or about January 21, 2017, at Apapa, Lagos conspired together to illegally import into Nigeria 661 pump actions rifles.”

    The prosecution said they brought the arms from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

    The Federal Government said the defendants violated Section 98A (1)(b) of the Criminal Code Act by corruptly offering bribe to public officials on two occasions.

    It said Hassan offered N400, 000 to Federal Operative Unit’s Examination Officers on January 21 at Apapa to prevent “100 per cent search” of the 40 feet container numbered PONU 825914/3, which they knew contained prohibited goods.

    The prosecution said Hassan, on the same day, “corruptly gave the sum of N1million to government officials at the Apapa Port through one Danjuma Abdullahi in order to prevent search of your container by Customs officials which you knew contained 661 illegally imported pump actions rifles.”

    The defendants allegedly forged documents, such as a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, in a bid to deceive the officials.

    According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of Customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, claiming it was issued in Shanghai, China.

    The Federal Government also alleged that the defendants “illegally imported into Nigeria double barrel shotguns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms) between 2012 and 2016)”.

    The alleged offence contravenes sections 1(2)(c), 1(14) (a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

    Justice Faji adjourned until September 26.

  • Five accused of ‘robbery, unlawful possession of arms’

    Five men yesterday appeared at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged robbery and possession of illegal arms.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo gave the names of the accused as Faroye Ojo, 30, Aikesoro Ojo, 27, Ilesanmi Dada, 26, Ojo Akinwumi, 26 and Mayowa Asaolu, 27.

    He said the accused allegedly committed the offence, about 12:13 am., on September 16, at Efon-Alaaye Ekiti in Efon Local Government.

    The prosecutor alleged that the accused were in possession guns, cutlasses and others.

    He said the offence contravened Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms, Act Cap R 11, Laws of Federation 2004.

    Leranmo added that he duplicated their case files and sent them to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    The defendants’ pleas were not taken, as their counsel, Mr. Rotimi Agbaje, sought a date for adjournment.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Aderopo Adegboye, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

    He adjourned the case till October 4 for mention.

  • Militants to Boroh: we’re ready to surrender our arms

    A militant group in oil-rich Niger Delta has said it is ready to call off its agitation and lay down its arms.

    The Reformed Egbesu Boys of Niger Delta (REBND), in a letter addressed to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator,  Amnesty Office, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, noted that it supports the unity of Nigeria, but was protesting the lack of attention for its people and communities.

     The letter, which was signed by its spokespersons; Tony Alagbakereowei and Ebi Abakoromor, lamented the neglect of Peretoru community in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State, and others, despite their contribution to the nation’s economy.

    While urging the Federal Government not to listen to negative impressions about agitators in Niger Delta’, it said the Federal Government should build residential buildings, roads and provide social amenities in Peretoru.

     “Our reason for agitation is basically because of development. In fact, if you come to Peretoru in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, which has the largest manifold in West Africa, you will be surprised to hear that after about 47 years of exploration and production by SPDC, there’s no state or  federal project. Our only means of water is the river.

    “This injustice has forced us into renewed attacks on oil and gas facilities in the creeks of Niger Delta. We are ready to pull out of the creeks, surrender our arms, if only the Federal Government is ready to develop our community.

    “Based on the confidence the Vice-President tried to build during his fact-finding mission to our region, we recommend that the Federal Government should award a contract for the construction of 100 housing units of four bedroom and three bedroom bungalows in Peretoru.

    “We also recommend the construction of an access road from Peretoru to Ojobo, the construction of a modern hospital with laboratory, potable water, modern schools and the installation of a gas turbine, to indicate the readiness of the APC government’s developmental plan,” the group said.

  • Arms proliferation, threat to national security

    SIR: When the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace Disarmament in Africa in 2016 raised an alarm on the spate of proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria to the tune of 350 million, many dismissed it as lacking accurate statistical data for its verification. Although many Nigerians believe that the porous nature of the nation’s borders might facilitate this illicit and nefarious enterprise through activities of smugglers, but the recent discovery that some of these weapons could actually pass through the nation’s prime port –Lagos, was rather rattling

    In January, this year Nigerians were jolted by the breaking news that the Nigerian Customs Service intercepted 661 pieces of pump-action riffles from China surreptitiously concealed in steel doors and other merchandise goods. The fact that the consignment was purportedly cleared from Lagos port cast not a little doubt on the integrity and competence of officers of the Customs but in a swift move to purge itself of complicity, the Customs leadership dismissed the culpable officers.

    Four months later, in May, news of another seizure of a container with 440 arms and ammunition hit the newsstand. This time around, the consignment was disguised and declared as Plaster of Paris by the importer. The imports which were said to have originated from Turkey were intercepted even before declaration. Arrest was also effected and it is believed that the suspects are being prosecuted.

    This week, Monday, September 11, the Comptroller of Custom Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) confirmed yet another seizure of 1100 pump-action-riffles in Lagos. This brings the number of intercepted pump-action–riffles within the last eight months to 2201. Already, the Customs officer and the clerk at the command which were found to be complicit have been promptly arrested for investigation.

    For a nation currently being polarized along ethnic divide with threats and counter threats, it calls for a national vigilance of not only the security operatives but by all well meaning citizens. With the recent rampant incidents of Boko-Haram insurgency in the North-east, militancy in the South-south, the herdsmen’s attack in the North-central and the agitation for secession in the South-east, the country’s security architecture should be repositioned and be battle-ready to square up with any  possible break-down of law and order. This is certainly not the time to rest on one’s oars.

    It is also not the time to revel in self-congratulations for effecting those few interceptions because one may not know how many of such consignments have successfully found their ways un-detected into the country through the ports and sundry porous borders across the country. The most baffling of this narrative is the fact that we still have officers in the Nigerian Customs Service who would not mind if the entire country is consumed in a conflagration so long as their pockets are stuffed with filthy lucre. It is equally pathetic since they have no inkling of where they would be, in event where these lethal objects of human destruction are put to use as they could be victims.

    Since the exporting countries of these fire-arms are already known, the Customs should interact and interface with the World Customs Organization to ensure the security of the nation’s trade supply chain and strengthen enforcement to combat all forms of illicit trade. It should also unravel the mystery behind these nefarious transactions and invoke extant legal framework to sanction the culprits.

    Nigeria’s firearms’ laws should be rejigged to deal with emerging security challenges in the country in order to curb illegal and abusive use of light weapons by unauthorized people.

    The revelation made by the presidential committee on small and light weapons in 2015 that about 60 percent of all illicit arms used in the South-east zone of the country were locally fabricated should provide a veritable template for holistic sensitizations, regulations and disarmament.

     

    • Itaobong Offiong Etim,

    Calabar.

  • Suspected armed robber dies in gun duel

    Suspected armed robber dies in gun duel

    Policemen attached to the Ijanikin Division, Ojo, a Lagos suburb, Monday killed a suspected armed robber and recovered arms, ammunition.

    It was gathered that the suspect was a member of a five-man gang, who operated on a motorcycle marked LAR929VW.

    They were said to have held residents of Oto/Awori hostage when a patrol team stormed the area.

    It was learnt that a gun war ensued which led to the death of one of the suspects, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

    Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said two locally made pistols with five unexpected cartridges were recovered. He said the suspects also abandoned their operational motorcycle, which the police also recovered.

    “The corpse has been evacuated to Badagry General Hospital Morgue for autopsy. Effort is being made to arrest other fleeing hoodlums,” said Famous-Cole.

  • We’ll make abductors of Lagos school boys give up arms, says Akeredolu

    We’ll make abductors of Lagos school boys give up arms, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said yesterday that he would work to ensure ttat the abductors of Lagos school boys dropped their arms.

    He also confirmed that he promised the kidnappers of  inclusion in the Federal Government amnesty programme.

    He spoke in an interview programme on an Ibadan-based radio, Fresh FM at the weekend.

    Akeredolu explained that as soon as the Federal Government hinted him that the children were hidden somewhere in the creeks of Ondo State, he assigned his deputy, who hailed from a riverine area of the state, to find means of opening discussions with the abductors.

    On successfully establishing contact with them after risking his life, the governor recalled that he joined in the discussion to know the motive of the abductors.

    According to him, the militants complained that they were excluded in the amnesty programme launched for all militants in the Niger Delta.

    Akeredolu said he promised them that he would  intimate the Federal Government of the need to include them in the programme. He said the government did not pay ransom to secure their release.

    The governor said he, however, made them realise the danger of criminality.

    He said the militants expressed trust in his administration to right the wrongs of the past.

    “My deputy did a yeoman’s job and started a discussion with the abductors. We made them realise that they may have their problem with the government but we told them that we will report that to the Federal Government. People repose a lot of trust in our government. They have implicit trust in us. The young boys (kidnappers) have trust in us. We promised them we would persuade the Federal Government to include them in the amnesty programme.  We did not pay any ransom. We will work with the Federal Government to make them surrender their arms,” Akeredolu said.

    Akeredolu also acknowledged that there is division in the All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing out that the party is so big that all members can not always agree. He stressed that it is part of the beauty of democracy.

    He also denied working as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s boys in Southwest, saying he is not a boy to anybody.

  • Arms everywhere

    Arms everywhere

    •Security agencies must get to the root of the seized 661 pump-action rifles

    NOTHING illustrates better the seriousness of the acute security challenge confronting Nigeria than the interception and seizure on January 22, by security agents, of 661 pieces of pump-action rifles in Lagos. The illegal and very alarming imports, surreptitiously brought into the country through China and routed via Turkey, were reportedly packed in 49 boxes and loaded in a 40-foot container cleverly hidden among other goods, including steel doors.

    But for the alertness and sense of duty of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which apprehended the deadly consignment being transported in a Mack truck, with registration number BUG 265 XG, along Apapa-Mile 2 Road, the substantial arms haul would have found its way into Nigeria’s booming market for illicit arms.

    We commend the decisiveness with which the requisite arms of the NCS moved to apprehend all those involved in the dastardly transaction leading to the arrest of three suspects who were accompanying the arms to its destination, as well as the Customs officials who initially gave the containers a clean bill of health and cleared it to slip through the ports undetected.

    Obviously aware of the grievous danger that this discovery poses for national security, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), declared that “investigations have already commenced and I have directed that the dragnet should be wide enough to fish out all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment”.

    This surely is the kind of resoluteness needed to expose, apprehend and neutralise the brains behind what can only be a vast and intricate syndicate specialising in the clandestine importation of illegal arms. It is particularly noteworthy, as the NCS comptroller-general explained, that the seized rifles were under absolute prohibition and thus could not be legitimately brought into the country. Yet, the fact that those behind this devilish transaction could brazenly have tried to bring such a large number of arms into the country through the ports is an indication of the high level of confidence they had in their capacity to compromise and beat the security at the ports.

    It is thus not unreasonable to assume that this may not have been their first time of seeking to bring in arms illegally but for mother luck that failed to smile on them this time around.

    There is certainly a close link between the massive influx of undetected arms into the country and the ever escalating rate of violent crimes.

    Thus, apart from the now thankfully largely checkmated Boko Haram terrorists as well as murderous Fulani herdsmen rampaging host communities, who are armed with sophisticated weaponry of all kinds, armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists are also aided in their nefarious activities by access to arms through unofficial channels.

    There is also no doubt that the perceived inability of the security agencies to effectively check crime in the country may be a motivating factor for individuals to seek to procure arms illegally for self defence.

    Col. Ali was therefore spot on when he averred that “such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country”.

    Given the complex route the arms consignment traversed on its way to Nigeria as well as within the country, the operations most likely involved a far higher number of accomplices than those currently identified. The NCS must thus seek the cooperation of other security agencies to get to the root of illicit arms importation rings that may lead to other discoveries capable of helping to stem the tide of illegal arms inflow into the country.

    Equally critical is the need for the NCS to invest heavily in boosting the professional efficacy of its officers through the acquisition of cutting edge technology that can ensure that the service remains well ahead of criminal elements trying to subvert its structures, processes and systems.

  • Ali: smugglers import arms, ammunition via land borders

    Ali: smugglers import arms, ammunition via land borders

    • Customs eyes N900b revenue

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it decided to ban vehicle importation through land borders because it discovered that unscrupulous elements were using it as a decoy to flood the country with arms and ammunition.

    Its Comptroller-General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) who spoke  in Abuja during this year’s International Customs Day with: Data Analysis for Effective Border Management as its theme, said the ban would help boost the economy.

    He said Customes  hopes to generate between N700billion and N900 billion as revenue for the Federal Government this year.

    Ali said the service generated N898 billion from the N937 billion target set for last year.

    He said: “We are looking at between N700 billion and N900 billion. The budget has not been finalised. Until the budget is finalised, we will get the final approval. We never had N1trillion, it was N937 billion. We got N898 billion.

    “We are a little bit short but if you appreciate the trading volume, you will know that the NCS has done extremely well.”

    Speaking further on the ban, he said it would help tighten the security of the country.

    “I think it is (the ban on vehicles through land borders) is coming up very well; we are about 26 days into it; it always takes time to have these things really driven into our stakeholders.

    “The actual fact is that we want to boost the economy of this nation. We want to bring back those money that is been exported back to this country.

    “We want to tighten the security of this country because we have discovered through the importation of these cars through the borders where most of them are smuggled, arms and ammunition are being squeezed into these cars and driven into this nation,” he said.

  • Arms and the politicians

    Arms and the politicians

    EVERYONE Likes to gloat now and then. It is no surprise then that the quiet and usually faceless Nigerian secret service is not exempted from that self-adulatory excursion. It boasts of its exploits in the Boko Haram war, especially the arrest of the third most wanted terrorist on the United States watch list. It exultantly recounts the phone call the US president Barrack Obama placed to President Muhammadu Buhari. And it mentions how Nigeria has in some quaint little way become the mecca of the world’s secret services. Well, the Department of State Service (DSS) does in fact have a few things to celebrate, and its officers must not be denied.
    Hear the unnamed DSS source who spoke to reporters last week: “This has been a very wonderful year for DSS. We are being challenged, but we are not complaining. If there is any one group that is dangerous, it is the politicians. They are more dangerous than Boko Haram. The way 2019 is being looked at, many knives and sticks are being sharpened because of some people’s interest. A politician now throws decorum to the winds because he wants to be president or governor. He is now dishing out stories that will make this country to be burning…We want to reach 2019 in peace and not in pieces. The way they are interested in power without any plans on what to do gives cause for concern. They are turning truth into falsehood.”
    So, that was the catch. All the celebratory and prefatory words were nothing but laying the foundation for that disturbing clincher. And that clincher is that when the secret service makes far-reaching statements about politicians, Nigerians had better believe them. To the service, it is not just that politicians are arming themselves for 2019, the politicians are also misguided and incompetent, hungry for power when in fact they have no programmes. Assuming the DSS was not describing what took place when the current government assumed office in May 2015, it is worrisome in the extreme that the secret service must now delve into politics and begin assessing which politicians and parties are politicking well. If this is not preparing the grounds for repression and tyranny, perhaps on a grander scale than the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan did, it is not clear what else it is.

  • Sultan to Govt: Find out how herdsmen acquire AK47 riffles

    Sultan to Govt: Find out how herdsmen acquire AK47 riffles

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar, has challenged the governments at all levels to investigate how suspected herdsmen and other Nigerians acquire AK 47 and other arms and ammunitions.
    He spoke on Tuesday in Nsukka, during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Nsukka Socio-Cultural zone.
    “They have always asked us how the herdsmen acquired these ammunitions, but I throw the question back to the politicians; find out how people acquire the guns.
    “Find out how the herdsmen that move with AK47 riffles acquire them,” he said.
    The sultan attributed the seeming mistrust among Nigerians to misinformation and ignorance.
    “We have refused to come together as a nation due to ignorance and suspicion. “Our visit here is to strengthen relationships, having started my youthful life in Nsukka 39 years ago.
    “My coming here is at the right time, considering the loss of lives due to insecurity in parts of the country,” he said.
    Abubakar said that no Nigerian would aim at killing an Igbo man in any part of the country for whatever reason, adding that they were only targetted because of their hard work.
    “Nobody in the Northern part of the country has been aiming at an Igbo man to kill.
    “Miscreants target them because they are the most industrious and the people that move the economy.
    “That is why their shops and other businesses are mostly the target during unrests because the hoodlums are sure to find valuables in the shops,” he said.
    The Sultan said that he was overwhelmed at the love shown him by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and residents of the state.
    “As Nigerians we can be the best of families if we want to,” he said.
    Abubakar said that Nigerians had the option to live as one united family, adding that such visits would continue to strengthen the ties between the peoples of the country.
    He noted that the various ethnics and interest groups in the country can co-exist peacefully if there is justice.