A Deadly Cargo from Iran

pics courtesy The Punch Newspapers.

But for the vigilance of the police, the State Security Service and the Department of Military Intelligence 13 containers of ammunition would have gone into wrong hands through Apapa Wharf Port in Lagos. The ammunition including 24 crates each of various sizes of rocket launchers, grenades and other small ammunitions which were impounded last week, were allegedly imported from India. It was reported that MV CMA-CGM Everest, a ship which sailed from the Nhava Shava port in India from the 15 0f July and berthed in Nigeria in the early weeks in October.

Security officials claimed that documents about the containers indicated that they were building materials from an unknown shipping agent. But it was discovered that crates of tiles, glass wool and other building materials were used to conceal the ammunitions in the containers. The behaviour of the consignment’s clearing agent was said to have raised suspicion as he tried to bribe officials so that the containers could be moved from the AP Mollier Terminal, the major port terminal to an off-dock terminal. The agent also requested that screening of the goods should take place outside the ports. This therefore made the custom to invite other security officials to help search the containers.

Marilyn Ogar, SSS Assistant Director, Public relations told journalists that “ on opening the first container, security operatives discovered rocket launchers, grenades and other smaller ammunitions”, Wale Adeniyi, spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service also confirmed the discovery of heavy ammunitions in the containers. In a statement credited to Dikko Abdullahi, Comptroller General of Customs, he assured that the customs were investigating the matter. “Our system is configured to block suspicious importation of this nature” Abdullahi noted. He also informed pressmen that the importer did not complete the necessary papers and that they suspected that his name was also fictitious.

Owuye Azazi, National Secretary Adviser accompanied by police commissioners, senior customs officers and Chris Olakpe, commandant of police bomb squad visited the APM Terminal. Azazi told journalist after inspecting the confiscated artillery that those behind the importation would be arrested speedily. He promised that “ investigations will unravel those behind it and what they intend to do”. On the suspicion that the weapons would be used to disturb the peace of the forthcoming elections, Azazi refused to agree to those suspected intention as he said “ investigation would uncover the intention of those behind the act. We do not want to make hasty conclusions on the matter” Azazi said. President Goodluck Jonathan had lauded the nation’s security agencies for their vigilance which led to the discovery of imported arms.

Gun running through the nation’s porus lax land and sea borders has created serious security threats in the country bringing about an increase in the number of smugglers, kidnappers, armed robbers, and political thugs. In June last year, security men impounded a Russian aircraft with 18 crates of firearms believed to be on its way to Equatorial Guinea. The aircraft landed in Kano City to refuel, when it was impounded.

The heaps of ammunitions dropped by the Niger Delta militants under the amnesty programme caused a stir considering their quantity and level of sophistication. In May 2010, a car bomb explosion occurred along in Yenegoa few metres away from the hotel belonging to the Peremobowei Ebebi, deputy governor of the State. His home was also attacked in July 23 and heavy explosives and guns were used. Although none of his family members were injured a private guard was killed. Nigerian’s were shocked when on the day of the country’s golden independence anniversary, two car bombs exploded near the Eagle Square in Abuja killing no fewer than 15 persons.

Many Nigerians are worried that discoveries and seizures of arm caches do not go beyond mere arrests of the suspects and media blitz. Many of the suspects and their sponsors escape trail and punishment shortly after arrests. Meanwhile, Isreal has claimed ownership of the ammunitions, we hope the Nigerian government applies the global laws on Arms dealing. The nation should also be vigilant about the impounded ammunition falling into the hands of political thugs and religious bigots.