NAGAFF Cautions Security Agencies On Investigation Into Illegal Arms Importation

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called for caution on the part of the security agencies in unravelling those behind the three caches of arms that were illegally imported into the country from Turkey.
The association advised that insinuations that the arms were imported by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB); Nnamdi Kanu and his group may jeopardize investigations. 
The association’s National President, Chief Increase Uche said this yesterday in Lagos during a chat with Shipping Position Daily.
He warned that making such statements while investigations were ongoing amounts to giving a verdict which he said was capable of affecting the credibility of such investigations.
“You see, where they keep getting all these things wrong is that act of flippancy, people talking too much even as security agents, when they have not concluded investigations on the issue, they are making statements as if they are giving a verdict. So, they should exercise some restraints", he cautioned.
"But for me, I cannot state categorically whatever the rumour that is going on is the true position, until the security officers are able to come out and tell us categorically that this is what the investigation report is pointing at”
"But to help the investigators, this is a very simple and straightforward issue, there shouldn't be any speculation. It is an imported item, a shipping line was involved in shipping it, then a shipper also was involved who gave the consignment for shipment. Then it is possible that the consignee or the importer is also there. All these things are manifested in the bill of lading.
"With those information contained in the bill of lading, it will be a guide for the investigators to know where to trace the owners. So, through those parties, they will trace whosoever that is privy to the importation", he suggested.
The NAGAFF boss dismissed the call for the owners of the consignment to be traced to his address as manifested in the bill of lading, arguing that such exercise won't be necessary.
"See, under the contract of carriage of goods by sea, it is always clear. Somebody placed order, it is possible that before the importation, that Proforma was sent, Form M was opened. So, these are procedures for importation and from these areas, it is easy. There must be a bank where Form M was processed, even if they didn't declare the actual thing in the container but the one they declared, who opened the Form M? Who made the approval, the shipping line that brought it and all that”, he added.