In a bid to strengthen national security, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted six pump action guns and 993 rounds of ammunition from a luxury bus in Lagos State.
According to the agency, the bus driver and conductor fled the scene upon sighting the customs officers on their trail in Oshodi Local Government Area of the state.
The Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kola Oladeji, who narrated how the operation was implemented, disclosed that the bus was traveling from Aba to Lagos, where the items were suspected to be delivered.
According to Oladeji, the operatives initially suspected the bus might stop at Mowe, a location outside their jurisdiction. However, after observing its movement, they allowed it to proceed uninterrupted, adhering to professional standards.
“All of us knew how volatile that place is, and their destination is in Lagos. Our jurisdiction is the southwest. We thought they would stop at Mowe, but they moved, and our operatives used their professional ethics to allow them to get to their destination.”
Oladeji further revealed that the operatives followed the bus to its final destination in Oshodi, which he described as a “volatile area” due to its high population density and potential for chaos.
“Their destination was Oshodi, and you all know how volatile that place is. For the past seven months I have assumed the headship of this unit, we have never fired a slippery gun because we value average life more than anything. After watching them, they disembarked from the bus.”
“The drivers, who were our target, disappeared. We had no choice because they went away with the key. We towed the bus down to our warehouse in Ikeja. There, we conducted all necessary rummaging and discovered the hidden places where all these pump-action guns were kept and wrapped,” he explained.
According to the Comptroller, the discovery further highlights the sophistication of organized criminal syndicates, especially during the ember months, a period notorious for increased illicit activities.
Meanwhile, he reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to employing intelligence-driven strategies to combat smuggling and protect lives, particularly during the ember months, often associated with heightened criminal activities.
