Black October: Three officers dead, as Customs decries violence by rice smugglers
…APFFLON condemns incessant attacks on Customs personnel
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has lamented that no fewer than three officers were killed by suspected rice smugglers during the anti-smuggling war in the month of October 2021.
Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, over the weekend, alleged a conspiracy of silence concerning the death of Customs anti-smuggling operatives.
He said, “In no distant past, we heard loud voices criticising NCS about injuries and purported killings of some Nigerians, in clear cases of violence against officers performing their legitimate duties
“Those voices seem no longer loud in condemning the murder of Customs officers. The service, within October 2021, lost three operatives with many sustaining serious injuries.
“Premised on trump up charges of ‘invasion and burning of houses at a village,’ some supposedly responsible individuals are going to town with write ups that sweep officers’ death under the carpet, while dwelling on an allegation that has been debunked by the NCS with verifiable evidence.”
Ali said Nigerians must rise against smugglers’ increasing tendency to resort to violence to pull through their criminal acts.
“Those who support criminality by either physically attacking officers or pushing narratives that strengthen smugglers are enemies of the state and should be seen as such, no matter their claim of defending fellow citizens.
“We refuse to be intimidated by these merchants of violence. We remain focused on the job of ensuring that nothing that is capable of compromising national security and economy is allowed entry or exit,” he said.
The Customs boss, therefore, urged well meaning Nigerians not to be distracted by the selective ‘concern’ for human life and continue to support the service to serve the country better.”
In a swift response, the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), has condemned in strong terms, the heinous act even as it urged the Federal Government to forestall further attacks.
APFFLON, in a statement signed in Lagos on Monday by its President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, recalled that it was recently reported that no fewer than three operatives of the NCS were shot dead while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement quoted the Public Relations Officer, NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah as saying in a statement that some unscrupulous hoodlums suspected to be smugglers resorted to unleashing mayhem on customs officers.
“We also read in the news that the missing body of another customs officer was found floating on Ipaja River in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, while two others kidnapped by daredevil smugglers operating in Ogun State, were both found dead in Fagbohun Village over interception of smuggled rice from Benin Republic.
“We hereby vehemently condemn the mindless killings of customs operatives, they are human beings who have families and relations too. The incessant attacks and gruesome murder of customs operatives, especially at border areas, calls for urgent government intervention and should no longer be handled with kid gloves.
“APFFLON strongly maintains that if at all any investment in technology is in pipeline, investment in border security should be given top priority. We advise the Federal Government to fortify major entry points with modern security technology and also equip Customs operatives and other border security personnel with needed gadgets and quality firearms to effectively confront smugglers and hoodlums at any time.
“Enough of the massacre of Customs operatives, they are human beings, Government should take proactive measure to protect them. If this continues, it means in no distant time, no officer would take up such assignments any longer, and that portends serious danger to the country. Government should invest in latest technology to secure our borders. Training and retraining of Customs Operatives and formation of Joint Task Force to protect all the agencies is very germaine at this critical time.”
It urged the federal government to put proper insurance scheme in place to cover Customs operatives and their families, adding that drones and helicopters should also be deployed for effective border policing.
“And most importantly, engagement of neighbouring countries for intelligence gathering and access to very sensitive information.
“Our country is facing serious security threats on all fronts, and applying every effective measure to combat it will do the country pretty good, while the Nigeria Customs Service should improve on their public relations and engage stakeholders in all sectors,” the statement added.
