Illegal Arms: Reps To Invite Heads Of Customs, DSS

Channels Television  

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The House of Representatives has resolved to invite heads of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to brief the House of plans to address the menace of small arms and light weapons.

This is in a bid to check the influx of small arms and light weapons into the country.

The House has also urged the two agencies and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, to speed up an investigation into the shipment of arms and commence prosecution of the culprits involved.

The Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies have been advised by the lawmakers to intensify port checks to control the influx of such arms into the country.

According to the sponsor of the motion, Obinna Chidoka the Federal Government must take urgent steps in investigating the arms.

Earlier the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil, had promised to launch an investigation to fish out those behind the illegal importation of firearms from Turkey to Nigeria.

Mr Cakil made the promise during a meeting with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Retd), amid growing concerns over the interception and seizure of pump-action rifles illegally shipped to Nigeria from Turkey.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerians Customs Service, Joseph Attah, said the Customs boss informed Mr Cakil that the agency and Nigerians were concerned about the discovery and seizure of 2,671 pump-action rifles brought into Nigeria from Turkey.