Abdulfatah, there is no Nigerian who would read about seizures of arms of the magnitude declared by Nigeria Customs Service, who would not commend their efforts. But such a person might be worried about their failure to trace, arrest and prosecute importers of such items, more so after four serial seizures within a year. Such was my concern until I read the interview of a retired Colonel in Sunday Sun edition of 17th September, which carried your piece, “2,201 Rifles From Turkey And Still Counting”. The Colonel, despite expressing worry about the ceaseless importation of such rifles, which might be misused, especially by politicians, explained in clear terms the legality of such importations.
At that point, a past event resonated in my mind. A well-known Ibadan chief in early 1960s had a double barrel gun, which he was using to hunt flying eagles from the balcony of his storey building.
We, as young boys, used to search for dead shot eagles that nose-dived to a distance away from shooting spot; to pack them for the chief. That scenario, to me, confirms Colonel’s claim that importation of such arms is legal and makes nonsense of Customs’ media hypes on their seizures. That also, to discerning minds, might be why importers of past seizures could not be prosecuted. Looking at it from another point, there was a robbery attempt in an estate that was thwarted by responses of holders of light arms, such as were listed in Custom’s seizures, to the armed robbers’ sporadic shots to scare residents. The robbers had to flee. Information also has it that in America, healthy citizens are licensed to carry prescribed rifles for self defence. If such is adopted in Nigeria, with prescribed rifles, it might reduce incidents of armed robbery and kidnapping. No armed robber would like to die in service. It is worth trying, not so?
–Lai Ashadele.
Despite the negative comments against Nigeria Customs by Nigerians over corruption intake among the security agencies, in recent times the Customs Service has been performing well by impounding illegal arms imported into the country by shylock importers to destroy the country for their selfish interest.
We should give kudos to the Customs for safeguarding the nation by ensuring that illegal arms were not brought into the country.
The importers of illegal arms should not go scot-free to serve as a deterrent to others, who may engage in same acts of importing illegal arms to destroy lives and properties in future. Nigerians should be on the watch and report to the security agents any unusual movement of things as we approach another election season.
–Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Imo State
More grease to your elbow, Abdulfatah. The cache of illegal arms in our dear country keeps rising geometrically, everyday. They are smuggled in via the porous borders with the assistance of corrupt and inept officers at the borders. May God save Nigerians,
–E. Anyadioha, Ilaro.
Hello Abdulfatah. Your lines on the 2201 rifles are quite interesting. But the authorities should now answer the question on who imported them.
Recently, the IPOB has been setting up all manner of defense and security forces. Who knows where these guns were going!
–From Peter Chuks.
In life Abdulfatah, the principle of one reaping what he or she sows does not fail: it is an eternal principle. The urge to go against the law like a deep sore has, through greed for power, affluence and corruption in government, been left to fester for so long that it has become fashionable to the extent that people crave it openly. So in answer to your question, for our nation to regain her innocence again, the hunger to dominate and intimidate others must be done away with. The notion that one cannot be relevant in the society unless he or she possesses huge cash and properties must give way to the knowledge of the fact that one’s worth is not really dependent on his or her possession but the character the person exhibits in all he or she does.
Wrong orientation has seized the hearts of people. In addition, when citizens are brazenly denied what is legitimately their due, the likelihood that some will begin to look for illegitimate ways of extracting whatever they can from the same society that has for long oppressed them is potent.
This gives rise to armed robbery, thuggery and all manner of banditry. And whoever engages in any of the above acts as a means of livelihood certainly needs an instrument of coercion, which a gun aptly represents.
This, therefore, makes one to begin to wonder why there are governments in place. As ordinary citizens, our duty is to obey the laws of the land and the authorities have the duty of providing a conducive environment for the people to legitimately fend for themselves. Where this is lacking, no one can guess what will follow. All these boil down to poor governance. It creates unnecessary inequality in the country; it thrives on corruption, which distorts processes and denies the appropriate organs of government the power to apply sanctions when rules are flouted. In the nutshell, many reasons account for the massive importation of illegal arms into the country as already mentioned but it is the duty of those in authority to live up to their responsibilities as they have all it takes to create a good and a egalitarian society that affords all the citizens the opportunity to live well and be loyal; and apply adequate sanctions when people deviate. If we keep ourselves in check, Turkey will not be able to drop illegal arms on us when we do not ask for them. Thanks.
–Emma Okoukwu.