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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Nigeria Customs Hands Over 204 Pump-Action Rifles and Components to Arms Control Centre

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Nigeria Customs handed over 204 pump-action rifles and assorted firearm components to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
  • Officials said the components arrived from Turkey in a 20-foot container and were concealed among declared used goods.
  • The seizure followed intelligence-led checks, while discrepancies in the shipment documents remain under investigation.

A shipment declared as used goods arrived at Nigeria’s Tincan Island Port carrying enough concealed parts to assemble 204 pump-action rifles, customs officials said. The firearms and leftover components have now been handed to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Lagos.

According to Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale, the 20-foot container, numbered TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard the MV Algeciras Express on Aug. 16, 2026. Customs flagged it for inspection two days later and conducted a full physical examination.

Officials found knocked-down firearm components hidden among furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent. They also found inconsistencies in the consignment documents, including the identity of the consignee. Customs said those discrepancies form part of an ongoing investigation into the shipment and people connected to it.

Based on credible information gathered a 20-foot container with No. TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard vessel MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026, was flagged and subjected to a 100 percent physical examination on 18 August, 2026.

— Bashir AdewaleNigeria’s comptroller-general of customs described how officials identified and inspected the shipment.

Experts from the customs armament unit and the national arms-control centre assembled the parts. They identified 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles, along with 39 trigger pins, 58 locking lugs, 53 charging handles, 55 pistol-grip screws, 56 springs, 56 trigger groups, 38 forward grips or hand guards, 67 forward-grip latches, 56 pistol grips, 54 barrels and two U-plates.

Adewale said the items had been secured and documented before their formal transfer for statutory action. He credited intelligence sharing among the Office of the National Security Adviser, customs and other security agencies with supporting the operation.

This operation underscores the importance of intelligence-sharing and collaboration between the office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

— Bashir AdewaleHe highlighted cooperation among Nigerian security agencies in the seizure.
About this summary

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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