The Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd.), has rejected claims linking National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to an illegal arms importation case.
Kokumo described a viral video making the allegation as false, saying there was no basis for claims that suspects arrested over the seizure of weapons at Tin Can Island Port were sponsored by Ribadu.
He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while providing clarification on the incident.
According to the NCCSALW chief, he personally witnessed the Nigerian Customs Service hand over 399 assorted automatic weapons intercepted at the port to the centre.
He said two suspects connected with the shipment had been arrested and remained in custody as investigations continued.
Kokumo explained that the ongoing investigation was aimed at identifying the individuals responsible for bringing the weapons into Nigeria and establishing whether they had links with criminal collaborators outside the country.
He also condemned the contents of the viral video, saying the allegations were not only untrue but appeared to encourage violence against Ribadu and other individuals.
Kokumo said the Federal Government would continue destroying recovered illicit weapons to prevent them from being diverted to criminal groups and other non-state actors.
He explained that the practice was consistent with Nigeria’s obligations under international agreements involving the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.
According to him, destroying recovered weapons eliminates the possibility of such arms returning to circulation and being used against innocent citizens.
He disclosed that the centre publicly destroyed 1,419 illicit weapons during its Second Quarter Arms Destruction Exercise for 2026.
The exercise took place on July 30 at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.
Kokumo said the latest destruction brought the total number of illicit weapons destroyed by the centre since 2022 to more than 19,000.
He said the exercise was part of broader government efforts to prevent illicit weapons from being used in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
The NCCSALW boss further disclosed that the centre received 5,050 assorted automatic weapons from the Nigeria Police Force in June 2026. The weapons were described as illicit, unserviceable, decommissioned and obsolete.
He added that 399 JOJEF automatic guns seized by Customs had been transferred to the centre on August 17.
Kokumo stressed that government policy was not aimed at legitimate local arms manufacturers.
He acknowledged that artisanal gun makers have historically produced firearms used by traditional hunters and communities, including locally made Dane guns.
However, he said the emergence of sophisticated weapons being produced illegally had created a more serious security concern.
The NCCSALW chief said authorities were particularly interested in criminal manufacturers involved in producing sophisticated illicit weapons.
He added that the government had identified some talented local manufacturers whose skills could potentially be redirected towards productive and nationally beneficial activities.
Kokumo said such individuals could be incorporated into government plans and their technical abilities put to productive use in the national interest.
