Customs Hands Over 189,000 Seized Cartridges to Small Arms Control CentreMINNA, September 2, 202l

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has handed over 189,000 cartridges contained in 7,560 packages to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) as part of efforts to strengthen the management and control of illicit arms and ammunition in Nigeria.

The seized ammunition was formally transferred on Wednesday, September 2, at the Niger/Kogi Area Command in Minna by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Sani Umar, mni, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, dsm, fnipr, psc(+).

The ammunition was originally intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service on June 18, 2018, during an enforcement operation aimed at preventing the illicit movement of arms and ammunition.

The seizure, according to the Command, underscores the role of the Customs Service in curbing the smuggling and proliferation of prohibited items that could pose a threat to national security.
Receiving the ammunition on behalf of the Director-General of the NCCSALW was the Centre’s Zonal Director, North Central Zone, Abdul Adamu Eneche, DDGSS (Rtd.), fsi, PhD.

The handover was witnessed by a representative of the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as senior officers of the Niger/Kogi Area Command.

Speaking at the ceremony, Comptroller Umar reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting national security through sustained border surveillance, intelligence-led operations, information gathering and collaboration with sister security agencies.

He said the formal transfer of the seized ammunition demonstrated the Service’s commitment to ensuring that recovered arms and ammunition are properly accounted for, preserved and handed over to the appropriate authorities in line with existing laws, procedures and government policy.

Umar also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating the illicit movement of arms, ammunition and other prohibited items across Nigeria’s borders.

According to him, effective collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies is essential to safeguarding national security, maintaining peace and ensuring that items recovered through enforcement operations undergo the required legal and administrative processes.

In his remarks, Eneche commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service for their vigilance, professionalism and sustained efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition.

He specifically praised the Niger/Kogi Area Command for recovering, preserving and eventually transferring the seized ammunition to the appropriate authority.
Eneche noted that continued cooperation among security agencies remains critical to tackling the proliferation and illicit movement of small arms and light weapons across the country.

The handover also highlighted the importance of institutional accountability and inter-agency collaboration in the management of seized arms and ammunition.

The Niger/Kogi Area Command said it remains committed to its statutory responsibility of suppressing smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade and contributing to the protection of national security, peace and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

By Abubakar Abdulkareem Zakariya
Assistant Superintendent of Customs I
Command Public Relations Officer

For: Customs Area Controller
Niger/Kogi Area Command
September 2, 2026