Business

#EndSars Protest: Seme Customs made various seizures during protest

Comptroller BM Jibo

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has described as untrue the recent report that on the heels of the #EndSARS Protests, its men and officers were chased away from the border making way for smuggling activities to take root.

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations of the Seme NCS Command, Hussaini Abdullahi, stated that it’s officers not only manned their assigned posts during the period, but they in addition made seizures of smuggled items during the days of the crisis in other areas of the state.

Abdullahi said, “The Command wishes to state clearly that, the allegation is untrue and unfounded as officers were not only in their various duty posts, but were reinvigorated in their anti-smuggling operations. This translated into the seizures of the following items from 12th October to date, which falls within the period of #EndSARS protest”

Abdullahi, a Deputy Supritendent of Customs added that seizures worth millions of naira were made which comprised of 7 units of vehicles, 396 bags of 50KG foreign parboiled rice; 152 units of 25kg Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit and 6 units of 25Litre vegetable oil

There has been alleged reports that officers of Seme Area Command and other Security agencies vacated Seme-Badagry road for fear of being attacked by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests, thereby creating free access for smugglers to carry out their unlawful acts especially the movement of the contraband rice.

Such untrue report he said may affect the morale of officers who toil, and risk their lives day and night to protect our borders, the Command Hussaini stated will continue to enforce Federal Government fiscal policies, provide professional and quality service that will enhance development of the Country at large.

The command he said will do its best to support the efforts of the present administration to make the country food sufficient by discouraging smuggling into the country certain food items that are prohibited.