|
Nigeria-bound
arms seizures
By Sun News Publishing
Friday January 20, 2012
In recent weeks, there have been increasing and disturbing reports of attempted importation of arms and ammunition into the country. Most recently, the Ghana Police Service intercepted a truckload of arms destined for Nigeria.
The arms and ammunition were concealed in a lorry with an inscription of Coca-Cola brand name on it. In the consignment were pump action guns, AK 47 rifles, double-barrel guns and a large quantity of AA and BB cartridges.
According to the Accra regional police command, the vehicle was intercepted following a tip-off from residents in the area that a truckload with a Nigerian number plate was heading for the Ghana-Togo border with offensive arms. At least five suspects, three Ghanaians, and two Nigerians have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The suspects are currently assisting police investigation.
The Presidency, expectedly, says it is deeply worried by the development and has ordered an investigation into the matter with a view to unraveling the masterminds of the arms importation. Preliminary investigation by the police high command in Ghana quoted the driver of the vehicle to have said that the sponsors of the cache of arms had made one successful entry into Nigeria before luck ran out on them.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said that high level discussions are currently on between Nigeria and Ghana to get at the root of those behind the foiled arms importation, while efforts are in top gear to bring all the suspects to Nigeria for a detailed interrogation, and possible prosecution.
Undoubtedly, this development is worrying enough. Coming at this time that Nigeria is in the throes of its worst security problem posed by the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, the incessant reports of attempted arms importation into the country, is a present danger that should be tackled swiftly.
Only a day after the Nigeria-bound arms were intercepted in Ghana, a Briton, Mr. Gary Hyde, an arms dealer from Yorkshire, England, was arraigned in a London court for allegedly smuggling 80,000 guns and 32 million rounds of ammunition from China to Nigeria. Mr Hyde has also been fingered as the arms merchant behind the 2007 shipment of 40,000 AK 47 assault rifles, 10,000 9mm pistols into Nigeria. His trial is already attracting headlines in the British media. Prosecutors say Mr. Hyde’s arms deals are illegal. The British authorities also say Mr Hyde has not yet been granted licence to trade in arms.
Clearly, these are perilous times we are in. As a result, this period calls for all hands on deck. Had the sponsors of the arms beaten the dragnet of security network in Ghana, the consequences of such lethal weapons in the hands of subversive elements in Nigeria could better be imagined. Security agencies should double their efforts to prevent such incidents. So far, the readiness of our security agencies to respond swiftly to the danger posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, leaves much to be desired. We view with dismay a situation where the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies of government have often been caught napping each time Boko Haram struck. Because of this lax, Nigerians are living in fear and anxiety.
All said, the interception of the arms in Ghana should act as a wake-up call on the urgent need to adequately police our borders. However, this is a national duty that shall not be left for the police alone. The Customs and Immigration services should intensify surveillance at the borders across the country. We recommend that all our borders should be equipped with scanners and other security devices that can detect explosives and other dangerous weapons concealed by smugglers.
Also, our laws should be more responsive in dealing with arms offenders. Exchange of intelligence between our security agencies and those of neighbouring countries should be encouraged. Government should come to terms with the reality that the protection of lives and property of the citizens is its primary responsibility, and therefore should utilize the funds voted for security wisely. We commend the police authorities in Ghana for their commitment in impounding the arms, thereby saving Nigeria from a possible threat.
|
