Against the backdrop of worsening insecurity and proliferation arms and light weapons in Nigeria, operatives of theMurtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos command of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted arms and ammunitions at the airport.

According a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Victor Ogagbo, the arms and ammunition comprising a pistol and two magazines containing 26 rounds of ammunition were discovered during a routine examination in a baggage belonging to one Mr. Afolabi Olumide with Passport number B50120017, who arrived from Washington DC aboard a United Airlines flight.

The statement also says that the importation of the firearms contravenes Schedule 4 of the Customs and Excise and Management Act CEMA, 2004, which is on Absolute Prohibition List.

It was further gathered that the operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the airport had earlier questioned Mr. Olumide for illegally being in possession of two International Passports. The suspected passenger has already been handed over to the Police for further interrogation and investigation.

The statement reads in part: “Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while on a routine examination at the ‘D’ wing of the arrival hall at about 1105 hours on 13th April 2022, intercepted a Pistol with two magazines containing 26 rounds of ammunition.”