Personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at the weekend gave a vivid account of how some security officials engaged in illicit arms trading.
They gave the startling revelation during an interactive session with joint Committee on Customs & Excise and National Intelligence mandated by the leadership of the House of Representatives to probe the “frightening influx of small arms and light weapons into the country.”
While giving highlight on the Service activities, Godwin Eteng, DSS Director of Operations disclosed that “we (DSS personnel) have conducted more than 27 operations and arrested more than 30 persons involved in the supply of arms and ammunition and some of them are serving security men.”
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He revealed that seven tactical teams are conducting the operation to apprehend culprits associated with the nefarious act, an operation which according to him is ongoing.
Eteng further alleged that: “some agencies have over a period of time recruited people who were before cultists and armed robbers and are now wearing uniforms.
“And the question is: are we doing enough checks on our people who were recruited into security services?
“Like we had a situation where in one of the armouries belonging to one of the Armed Forces, how many pistols just got missing with quantities of ammunitions and all the pistols were new.
“In the armoury, no place was broken into, but the weapons were missing. And we’re interested in knowing what happened.”
Eteng also informed the lawmakers on the incidence of proliferation of small arms and light weapons, especially in Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Plateau which he described as conduits of small arms and light weapons being used to fuel ethnic crises in some geopolitical zones of the country.
“When we did our studies, we discovered that three- quarter of the arms used to cause the crisis in Southern Kaduna, in Zamfara and Plateau States are coming from the following states: Nassarawa, Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.
“We found out that if you can carry out serious operations to affect the supplies which is coming from these areas, it will seriously limit part of what is happening there,” Eteng urged.
Giving further reasons for the influx of illegal arms into the country, he said communal clashes, terrorism, kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clashes, political thuggery, militancy, cultism and criminal gangs combine to create a constant demand for arms in the country.
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He added that herdsmen from Senegal, Gambia and especially Central Africa come into the country through illegal borders carrying Ak 47 rifles.
In the bid to tackle the culprits, he emphasised the need to enact targeted legislations on prohibited firearms, more extensive vetting of those recruited into the security agencies, release of funds for logistics for border patrol personnel, electronic manning of and deployment of cameras at borders, review of crisis management at Local Government levels, should reduce the trend.
On his part, Damgaiadinga Abubakar, a Deputy Comptroller, who spoke on behalf of Comptroller- General of Customs, Hameed Ali disclosed that while there are 1,100 illegal borders into the country, only 97 are approved border posts.
He lamented over the dearth of necessary equipment needed to stem the inflow of weapons into the country.
Abubakar disclosed that 2,671 pump action rifles have been seized from January 2017 to date. The Customs personnel found culpable in the import of 661 pump action rifles have been dismissed from service and handed over to the Department of State Service for prosecution Abubakar said.
According to him, lack of operational vehicles, fast moving boats, cutting-edge technology and advanced scanning machines at airports, seaports and border points are limiting the effectiveness of the service.
Also, he said there is inadequate welfare for personnel, as some personnel live deplorable conditions, hostilities by the border communities form part of the factors militating against the service, he told the lawmakers.
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Abubakar noted that there is need for more funds to be voted into to the Sercice in a timely manner to allow for operational activities.
While reacting to the presentations, James Faleke, House Committee on Customs & Excise urged the DSS to take over the regulation of Vigilantes that are being armed by State Governments with pump action rifles.
According to him, the DSS should be more proactive on saving the citizens from the abuse of arms by the State Governors and ensure that whatever arms procured are properly acquired to avoid abuse.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
