ARMS, AMMUNITION SEIZED AT LAGOS AIRPORT

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, has seized a cache of ammunition believed to have been abandoned by criminals and suspected terrorists who engage in illegal arms deal. The command said the ammunition was abandoned at the strong room of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO).

According to Customs Area Comptroller, MMIA Command, Michael Adewole, the inventory of the abandoned arms and ammunition include six double barrels, one single barrel, one pump action, one Uzzi, two magazines, one barretta pistol as well as one becheverria pistol.

Adewole listed the ammunition to include 20 pieces of 5.56 mm calibre, 19 cartridges, 12/12, 500 pieces of blank Armour and a sealed box of cartridges.

He listed the servicing accessories to include four pieces of pull trough, two brushes, oil rifle bag as well as a sling colt belt.

He said investigation had begun with sole aim of unraveling those behind the illicit arms deal.

Adewole added that the seized items were ranked as prohibited items that would not be allowed into the country, except by government security agencies. The MMIA comptroller said his command security received information that some unidentified persons abandoned arms at the strong room of NAHCO and immediately went to seize the cache.

He said the customs decided to carry out the exercise as part of its mandate at improving security around the airport, even as its officials would not fold their arms and allow such dangerous weapons get into town in view of the security situation in some parts, which had become flash points.

Security agencies around the airport including the State Security Services, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Air Force and Nigeria Intelligence Agency have been carrying out surveillance activities around the airport to nib in the bud any attempt to breach the peace.