Arms Seizure: Kokumo Dismisses Viral Claim Linking Suspects to NSA Ribadu

The Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd.), has dismissed as false allegations circulating in a viral video that suspects arrested over the seizure of illegal arms at Tin Can Island Port were allegedly sponsored by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Kokumo made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a joint security spokespersons briefing, insisting that he personally witnessed the handover of the seized weapons to the Centre by the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, Customs intercepted 399 assorted automatic weapons at the Tin Can Island Port before handing them over to the Centre on August 17, 2026.

He said he was physically present at the port alongside the Comptroller-General of Customs during the handover and therefore had first-hand knowledge of the incident.

“The story in the video is not correct and cannot be correct. I was at the Tin Can Island Port with the Comptroller-General. 399 assorted automatic weapons were intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service at the port,” Kokumo said.

He disclosed that the seized weapons had been moved to a secured armoury, while two suspects linked to the illegal importation remained in custody.

Kokumo explained that investigations were ongoing to identify those behind the shipment and uncover possible links to international criminal networks.

“As I’m talking to you, the arms are in a secured armoury. Two suspects arrested in connection with the illegal importation are currently in custody,” he said.

The NCCSALW boss further described the allegations in the viral video as baseless, noting that the recording also contained calls for violence against Ribadu and other individuals.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to destroying recovered illicit weapons to prevent them from being diverted into the hands of criminal groups and other non-state actors.

According to him, the destruction programme is also consistent with Nigeria’s obligations under relevant international agreements involving the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.

Kokumo disclosed that the Centre’s Second Quarter Arms Destruction Exercise for 2026, held on July 30 at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja, led to the public destruction of 1,419 illicit weapons.
He said the exercise raised the total number of illicit weapons destroyed by the Centre since 2022 to more than 19,000.

The weapons destruction programme, he explained, forms part of government efforts to curb terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes associated with the illegal possession and use of firearms.

Kokumo also revealed that the Centre received 5,050 illicit, unserviceable, decommissioned and obsolete assorted automatic weapons recovered from the Nigeria Police Force in June 2026.

He added that the 399 JOJEF automatic guns intercepted by Customs were subsequently handed over to the Centre on August 17.

However, the Director-General clarified that the government’s campaign against illicit firearms was not aimed at legitimate local arms manufacturers.

He explained that traditional local gun-making has existed in some Nigerian communities for generations, particularly for hunters and other lawful users, but expressed concern over the emergence of sophisticated weapons being manufactured illegally.

Kokumo said security agencies were specifically targeting criminal manufacturers involved in producing advanced illicit firearms.

He added that the government was also exploring ways to identify and harness the skills of talented local manufacturers for legitimate and productive national purposes.