661 Pump Action guns destined for Festac Town —Customs

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that the recently intercepted container loads of 661 Pump Action rifles from China were actually heading for Festac, in Lagos.

Speaking to Saturday Tribune exclusively, on Friday, the Spokesman of the FOU, Zone A of the NCS, Jerry Attah stated that as a member of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), after properly investigating the matter, the NCS might take it up at the level of the WCO since such importation ought to have been checked by the Chinese Customs before shipment into Nigeria.

According to Attah, “When the 661 pump action guns were intercepted at the Mile 2 axis of the Oshodi-Apapa express road in Lagos, further interrogation revealed that it was heading for Festac Extension in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos.”

He, however, declined to reveal which address in Festac the guns were heading to, saying investigations were ongoing.

When asked if the pump actions guns could have been averted by Chinese Customs even before leaving for Nigeria, he explained that, “We are a member of the WCO. Maybe after rounding up investigations, we might decide to take up necessary actions. But for now, we are still investigating.”

Meanwhile, in a related development, the NCS has summoned the shipping line and Terminal Operator, Mearskline and APM Terminals respectively for questioning over their involvement in the shipment and clearance of the 661 riffles seized by the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, of the NCS.

This is even as three Customs officers declared wanted by the Service in connection with the clearance of the cargo have surrendered themselves at the office of the FOU. The three suspects are Abdullahi I, with service number 44483 ASC, Odiba Haruna Inah, with service number 133386 ACIC, both of whom were earlier declared wanted and one Yola I.B.

Jerry Atta said that the three officers are being interrogated while stressing that the Service is determined to get to the bottom of offensive import.

In the words of Atta, the three officers voluntarily reported themselves. There is another one that was declared wanted yesterday, he also reported himself voluntarily.”

On the shipping line that brought in the shipment he said, “It is Maerskline, they have also been invited to come and tell us their role and also the terminal operator, APM Terminal.”

He also confirmed that the importer, clearing agent, and escort, who were arrested along with the arms cargo on Monday, were making useful statements, saying appropriate actions would be taken at the end of investigations.

Further findings revealed that operatives of FOU have laid siege to the Apapa port following the seizure of the pump action riffles.

Confirming that the management of the APM Terminal and Maerskline were summoned to explain their roles in the importation of the 661 firearms, a staff of the terminal operator who declined not to have his name in print acknowledged that the terminal operator was actually at the Customs officer to clarify their roles in the whole saga.

“We were asked to come and explain our roles in the 661 pump action importation. Nothing more than that. We have told Customs all what we know,” he stated.