Four Customs Officers Dismissed Over 661 Rifle Importation

Following the importation and clearing of the 661 pump action rifles seized at Tin Can Island Port earlier in the year, the Nigeria Customs Service has dismissed four of its officers who were found culpable in the act.

The officers were found to have illegally released a container load of arms after allegedly collecting bribes.

The officers’ dismissal was confirmed last weekend by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Joseph Atah.

The officers are Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said be at large, and Salihu Danjuma.

They were alleged to have conspired to import 661 pump action rifles into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

To facilitate the illegal importation, the accused allegedly forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.

It was also gathered that the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, claiming that it was issued at Shanghai, China.

In the forged bill of lading, they allegedly filled “steel door” as the content of the container instead of rifles.