Ayuba Sanusi
OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, have successfully thwarted the subversive plan of smugglers and recovered items worth Seventy-One Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Fifty-Six Naira (₦71,287,056) between 15th April and 15th May 2023.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of Kebbi Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this in Birnin-Kebbi during an interactive session with newsmen on Friday.
According to CC Oramalugo, the prompt response by the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in the Command was possible following the receipt of an intelligence report from individuals.
“On Sunday, 14th May 2023, following an intelligence report on prohibited items about to be smuggled out of the country through Bunza down to Maje Axis, we detailed our officers to increase surveillance along the routes.” CC Oramalugo said.
He highlighted how officers in charge of the anti-smuggling unit succeeded in recording 17 seizures through stop-and-search, and intercepted a truck laden with donkey skins and meat along the Bunza-Kamba axis.
The Comptroller was also dismayed by the unfortunate attack on some officers, who were conveying the seized items to the Command for further investigation, by some unscrupulous elements from the Bunza village.
He reiterated that the perpetrators will soon be identified and made to face the wrath of the law.
“These bad elements broke the windscreen of two patrol vehicles belonging to the Command, forcing our officers to retreat. We later called for reinforcement from the Army. Before the arrival of the Army, the mob managed to whisk away the truck to the surrounding bushes”, he said.
“The Command officers and the Army waited patiently until late hours before they continued with their operation. The truck and its content were eventually found at about 01:00Hrs at different locations and had since been brought to the Command’s headquarters for further investigation”, he added.
Recall that the Federal Government has empowered the Service to confiscate goods about to be exported in contravention of any law such as illegal trade of endangered species such as donkeys, and pangolin, among others.
According to him, the items seized during the period under review were: 1 Volvo Truck fully loaded with 212 big-sized sacks and 202 small-sized sacks of donkey meat/skins, 4 used vehicles comprising 2 Toyota Camry 2013, 2 used Honda Jazz 2005 and 55 bales of second-hand clothes.
Others were; 4,925 litres of petroleum, 13 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 5 kegs of vegetable oil, 1 blue Volvo truck and 1 Toyota Corolla, ash-coloured as a means of conveyance, among others.
“The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is ₦71,287,056. All these successes have been achieved through constant vigilance and intelligence gathering by the officers and men of the Command”, he stated.
Speaking further, the Comptroller also said that the Command has not been left behind as it recorded a giant stride in the area of revenue generation.
“The Command has steadily continued to record a boost in one of our core mandates of revenue generation. In April we were able to generate a sum of ₦127,364,100”, he said.
“This is as a result of the efforts we put in place through routine stakeholders engagement and application of advice received from community leaders and indigenous retired and serving security personnel, DCGs with whom we are in contact and who help us with useful advice as we pay homage to them.” CC Oramalugo added.
He appreciated the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) CFR and the entire management team of the Service for their usual support towards uplifting the values of the NCS.
Eighteen-Eleven Media