Concerned about the recent seizures of firearm shipments into the country, the House of Representatives on Wednesday invited the Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of State Service (DSS) to brief it on the development.
The invitation follows a motion under Matters of Public Importance moved by Reps member, Mr Obinna Chidoka to ascertain the causes of the influx and ways of mitigating the ugly development.
The Reps member pointed out, as examples, the four occasions this year alone that men of the Nigerian Customs Service have intercepted firearms, totalling 2,671 pieces, smuggled into the country. He noted that a set of firearms was seized in May while the third and fourth were seized in September.
Chidoka said that the seizure in January was intercepted by the Customs after it had been purportedly checked and certified freed. He emphasised that the firearms had left the premises of the port before it was tracked down after a tip-off.
“The recent firearms seizure, which is the second this month and fourth in 2017 would appear to suggest that the syndicate behind the firearms has stepped up its nefarious trade
“This has far-reaching consequences for our dear nation, as firearms and light weapons are the lifeblood of organised crimes and criminality,” Chidoka said.
“The influx has confirmed the recent report by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, which identified Nigeria as a destination of choice for smugglers of small arms and light weapons.”
The lawmaker said the invitation would enable the relevant agencies inform the House on how to curb the menace.
All the lawmakers threw their weights behind motion when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
The House also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for the seizure of the firearms.
The House urged the Customs, DSS and the Office of Attorney General of the Federation to speed up investigations into the seizures and commence prosecution of the anyone indicted in order to forestall similar occurrences in future.
