Eromosele Abiodun
The Turkish Government on Tuesday vowed to help the Federal Government of Nigeria to identify criminals behind the illegal importation of pump-action rifles into Nigeria.
This is just as the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria yesterday declared that importation of pump-action rifles into Nigeria from Turkey was a pure case of smuggling as both countries agreed to work together to stop further importation of dangerous trends into the country.
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, in a meeting with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), over importation of four containers of pump-action rifles into Nigeria in last eight months vowed to help Nigeria fish out criminals behind the illegal arms shipment to Nigeria.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Joseph Attah, a copy of which was made available to journalists, Cakil restated his country’s support for Nigeria’s security and would not support importation of dangerous shipment into Nigeria.
The statement explained: “Following concerns expressed by the general public on the recent seizures of pump-action rifles from Turkey, the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil had a meeting with the management of the Nigeria Customs Service today (yesterday) at the NCS HQ to fashion out ways of dealing with the disturbing issue.
“The CGC, Col. Ali, expressed concern of the NCS and indeed that of Nigerians that four different arms seizures within a total number of 2671 pump-action rifles coming from one source, Turkey, appears to suggest complicity of Turkish Authority, hence the need for the meeting.
“The Turkish Ambassador restated his country support for Nigeria security and well-being saying Turkey will not support importation of dangerous shipment into Nigeria.
“That all four shipments intercepted were false declaration on the bill of laden it is a clear case of smuggling
“That Turkish Ambassador will immediately communicate with his home country, finding from the NCS HQ with view to fishing out criminals behind the illegal arms shipment to Nigeria.
“That a team of NCS visit the Turkish Customs to further discuss ways of nipping such arms export from Turkey as well as strengthening agreement on mutual customs to customs assistance.
“The NCS provides for the Turkish authority list of prohibited items and in case of arms, sample of end user certificate to enable them always verify before approving any legal arms export to Nigeria.
“That the Turkish government will cooperate with Nigeria in every step to deal decisively with those found involved.
“The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to work together to stop the dangerous trend. Both agreed to use the situation as opportunity to strengthen tides to prevent the use of either country as a base for export of harmful items to the other.â€
