The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and 458 assorted rifle parts at the Tin Can Island Port Command, in one of the Service’s major interceptions of illicit arms.
The seizure, which was fully inventoried and examined on Sunday, 9 August 2026, also uncovered 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips/handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
The latest discovery follows the disclosure by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, 6 August, that the Service had intercepted a container containing concealed crates of knocked-down components preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.
Adeniyi had warned that criminal networks could exploit Nigeria’s borders, seaports and airports ahead of the next general elections to smuggle prohibited items, particularly firearms, into the country.
“We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so,” Adeniyi said.
He reaffirmed the NCS commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, enhanced border surveillance and closer collaboration with sister security agencies, including the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Following the completion of the inventory and assessment, the NCS said the seized firearms and components are being prepared for handover to the NCCSALW.
The Nigeria Customs Service said the inter-agency effort is aimed at taking illicit weapons off the streets, dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring that those responsible for the attempted importation are identified and brought to justice.
One Comment