NIGERIANS will need to be more security
conscious as Christmas draws nearer. Reason: intelligence
report indicates increased arms importation.
The PUNCH however learnt on Monday that
the report, compiled by the police, had compelled security agencies to review
their strategies to stem the trend and effectively counter security
challenges during the yuletide.
A top police officer who spoke to one of our
correspondents on the report said, “We have a report which shows that some
nefarious elements want to take advantage of the festive season to bring (more)
arms into the country. But all security agents have strenghtened their
intelligence networks.”
When contacted, Deputy Force Public Relations
Officer, Frank Mba, asssured that the polie were ready to prevent importaion of
arms into the country at any time.
“The police collaborated with INTERPOL to
track down the international angle to arms importation, adding that its
operations in troubled countries like Sudan, Liberia and others were meant to
get to the root of illegal arms that find their way into Nigeria,” he said.
Already, security has been beefed up
at the nation’s airports, land borders and sea ports.
The preventive measures appear to have yielded
results as the police said they had recovered a huge arms cache, including 74
AK-47 riffles, six rocket launchers, 13 rocket grenades and dynamites from
criminals and arms dealers in Lagos and Anambra states just under six weeks.
Also a vessel, MV Naomi Corcel, which was
carrying 20,000 rounds of ammunition and 100 AK-47 riffles, was seized near
Badagry, Lagos.
It was learnt that a task force consisting of the
Navy, Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency, a private security
agency, Global West, and marine police seized the vessel.
The task force also arrested 15 crew members,
made up of three Ghanaians, four Togolese and eight Nigerians.
A source said the arms and ammunition, including
AK-47 rifles, thousands of live bullets and explosive devices intercepted
by the police in the two states “were enough to equip a small army.”
In Lagos State, the police command seized
45 AK-47 rifles, two rocket launchers, 20 dynamites, 21 Dane guns, five General
Purpose Machine Guns, 14 Pump Action Guns, 10 short guns, one Lar rifle
and two K.2 rifles between September 1 and October 15, 2012.
Thousands of live ammunition for AK 47 rifles and
assorted guns were recovered while 48 suspects were arrested in connection with
the case.
Mba confirmed the seizure to one of our
correspondents in Abuja on Monday
Mba also said three suspects, namely Uche Ukagu,
Emmanuel Ezeani, and Chinonso Emeka were arrested in connection with the arms
shipment.
On October 10, the police seized seven AK 47
rifles, one Lar rifle, 220 ammunition, one K.2 rifle and three pump action
guns, 145 live cartridge, 59 magazines of AK47 rifle and one magazine of
Lars rifle.
During another operations, the command recovered
16, 703 ammo for AK47 rifle, 316 cartridge, 391 AK 47 magazine; one K.2 rifle;
three pump action, five pieces of dynamite; 145 live cartridge, 59 magazines of
AK47 and one magazine of Lar rifle.
The police arrested Ali Kadiri, Victor Alege and
Joseph Nnamdi during the operation.
In Anambra, the police arrested one Olise Ifedika
and two others at Oraifite with 27 AK47 rifles; one K.2 rifle; two type 06
rifles; one GPMG; one rocket launcher;17 rockets; six pump action; three Dane
guns; one beretta pistol; 13 rocket grenades and 12,000 AK 47 ammunition.
Mba said the police also confiscated 95 rounds of
GPMG ammunition and 143 magazines, adding that the confession of a suspect led
to the recovery of additional two AK47 rifles, one type 06, one rocket grenade,
three rocket launchers; 7,700 AK47 ammunition and 27 magazines at Uli on
September 17
“One Emeka Ezekudi was arrested and nine chains
for restraining kidnap victims were also recovered,” the force spokesman
stated.
Mba said the force had strengthened the capacity
of its intelligence unit to intercept, analyse and deploy information and
personnel that could assist in countering importation of arms.
According to him, the appointment of Assistant
Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, as the head of the police
intelligence department has added bite to the intelligence unit of the force
and increased the capacity of police personnel to monitor land and water
borders.
The police also said that they collaborated
with INTERPOL to track down the international angle to arms importation, adding
that itheir peace-keeping operations in troubled countries like Sudan,
Liberia and others were meant to get to the root of illegal arms that find
their way into Nigeria.
Investigations showed that the suspects, who were
arrested in connection with the arms seizure, had confessed that smuggled arms
were offloaded in a depot in Badary, Lagos State, from where they were sent to
other parts of the country.
A top security source told one of our
correspondents that the suspects were being detained at Beecroft, Naval Base,
Apapa.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had
allegedly confessed that they were working for one businessman, simply
identified as Charles.
It was learnt that in their confessional
statements, they said their sponsor was working for a permanent secretary in
Abuja. They were also said to have listed some officers of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum
Resources as their sponsors.
The suspects were said to have also confessed
that besides using the vessel to steal fuel, it was meant for importation of
arms and ammunition.
They reportedly transported arms and ammunition
to Badagry five different times in the last three months.
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