By Samson Ike, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 399 fully assembled rifles and a large cache of firearm components concealed in a shipment at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, raising fresh concerns over arms smuggling ahead of the country’s next general elections.

The seizure was confirmed on Sunday following a comprehensive examination and assembly of the intercepted cargo, which had initially arrived as crates containing disassembled weapon parts. Customs officials later discovered that the shipment contained components of Jojef pump-action rifles and other firearm accessories.

National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja, noting that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb the influx of illegal weapons into the country.

According to the statement, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, had earlier announced the interception of the container after intelligence reports prompted a detailed inspection of its contents.

Beyond the 399 assembled rifles, Customs officers recovered a substantial quantity of firearm components, including 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs and 80 charging handles.

Other items recovered from the shipment include 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 syndicates often exploit ports, airports and land borders to smuggle prohibited items into the country, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

“As the nation approaches another election cycle, there is a heightened risk that criminal elements may attempt to bring in dangerous weapons through our entry points. We remain vigilant and committed to stopping such threats,” he said.

The Customs boss stressed that the Service would intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement operations across all border channels to prevent the importation of illicit arms and other prohibited goods.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement and stronger collaboration with security and law-enforcement agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks operating within and outside the country.

Adeniyi highlighted the partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser, describing it as critical to national security efforts.

He disclosed that the seized weapons and components would be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons upon the completion of inventory documentation and forensic assessment.

According to him, the interception underscores the determination of security agencies to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of criminal groups and to ensure that those behind the trafficking network are identified, arrested and prosecuted.

Security experts have repeatedly warned that the proliferation of illicit firearms remains one of the major drivers of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes across Nigeria, making the latest seizure a significant breakthrough in the country’s efforts to curb illegal arms circulation.