By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has completed the coupling and detailed examination of a seized shipment at the Tin Can Island Port Command, uncovering 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms alongside a large quantity of additional rifle components.
The development followed the disclosure by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, that the Service had intercepted a container carrying concealed crates of knocked-down firearm components preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.
Following the completion of the coupling and inventory of the shipment on Sunday, August 9, Customs authorities established the full scale of the consignment, which contained 399 assembled firearms and various supplementary rifle parts.
The additional components recovered include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
The seizure represents a significant interception in the fight against the illegal movement of firearms into Nigeria, particularly as security agencies intensify surveillance of the country’s ports, borders and airports ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeniyi had warned that criminal networks could attempt to exploit legitimate channels of movement and trade to smuggle prohibited items into the country as political activities gather momentum.
“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,” he said.
The Customs chief reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, enhanced border surveillance and closer cooperation with sister security agencies to detect and disrupt the activities of criminal networks involved in arms trafficking.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in tackling the circulation of illicit firearms and dismantling the networks behind their movement.
Following the completion of the inventory and assessment of the seized consignment, the NCS said arrangements were being made to hand over the firearms and other recovered items to the NCCSALW in line with established inter-agency procedures.
The handover is expected to strengthen the coordinated response of security agencies to the threat posed by illicit arms trafficking and ensure that the seized weapons are taken out of circulation.
Meanwhile, investigations are expected to continue into the origin, ownership and intended destination of the shipment, as well as the individuals and networks responsible for attempting to bring the firearms into Nigeria.
The Customs Service said it would continue to work with relevant security agencies to identify those connected with the consignment and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
