Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 399 seized rifles and hundreds of firearm components to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as part of efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking and strengthen national security.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Monday after the completion of a detailed examination of the intercepted shipment at the Tincan Island Port Command.
According to him, the seizure comprised 399 fully assembled Jojef rifles alongside numerous weapon components, including 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 or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
Adeniyi warned that criminal networks could intensify attempts to smuggle prohibited weapons into Nigeria as the country approaches another election cycle.
“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, ports and 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,” he said.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intelligence-driven enforcement, stronger border surveillance and closer collaboration with sister security agencies, particularly the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
Following the completion of the inventory, the seized firearms were formally handed over to the Director-General of the NCCSALW under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Hope Ajayi 