Tin Can arms seizure: Arms Centre chief denies link to Ribadu

The head of Nigeria’s small-arms control agency has dismissed a viral claim linking National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to suspects arrested after the seizure of illegal weapons at Tin Can Island Port.

Johnson Kokumo, director-general of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, said he personally attended the handover of 399 assorted automatic weapons intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service. The handover took place at the port in the presence of the customs comptroller-general.

“The story in the video is not correct and cannot be correct,” Kokumo told journalists in Abuja during a joint security spokespersons briefing. He said the weapons had been transferred to the centre and were now being held in a secured armoury. Two suspects arrested over the alleged illegal importation remain in custody.

“

The story in the video is not correct and cannot be correct.

Kokumo said investigators were working to prosecute those involved and possibly identify criminal partners outside Nigeria. He also said the viral video made baseless allegations and called for violence against Ribadu and others.

The agency chief added that the Federal Government continued to destroy recovered illicit weapons so they could not be diverted back to criminal and non-state actors. He said the practice followed international obligations under agreements involving the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.

Kokumo said the second-quarter arms destruction exercise for 2026, held on July 30 at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja, publicly destroyed 1,419 illicit weapons.

“

As I’m talking to you, the arms are in a secured armoury. Two suspects arrested in connection with the illegal importation are currently in custody.