By Muhammed Ayinde & Mariam Onaolapo
Three tankers laden with about 99, 000 liters of PMS, 40 drums of diesel and 2,052 bags of foreign parboiled rice were among the items intercepted by the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) North Central Zone, Sector 3, Ilorin, Kwara State.
This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the JBPT Sector 3, Olugboyega Peters, while briefing newsmen on Monday (January16, 2023), in Ilorin.
He further disclosed that Customs operatives deployed to Suleja axis of Niger State, while on routine patrol intercepted a Toyota land cruiser jeep with registration number KUJ 570 MB belonging to a federal lawmaker from Rivers State, which was stolen in Gwarimpa axis of Abuja.
While enumerating the achievements of the sector, the coordinator said the team has recorded 187 seizures of a duty paid value of N302, 590, 252.00
These include, 2,052 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each), 4 trailer load, 4,598 liters of PMS (petrol), 40 drums of 800 liters of diesel, 28 units of used vehicles and 16 units of motorcycle.
Others seized goods are 11 kegs of vegetable oil (25 liters each), 102 bales of secondhand clothing, 19 sacks of 2166 pairs of used shoes, 427 rraps of Cannabis sativa, 4 packet of Tramadol (200 pieces each) of 120mg, 90 pieces of used tyres and 39 cartons tomato paste.
He, however, expressed displeasure over the attack launched on operatives by on Friday 21st October, 2022.
According to him, the hoodlums laid ambush and pelted them with stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms, guns and other dangerous items at Igboho town of Orelope Local Government of Oyo State, following seizure of bags of rice and PMS at Sinau-Kenu Road in Baruten LGA of Kwara.
“One of our officers ASCI Saheed Aweda succumbed to the cold hands of death while three (3) officers sustained life threatening injuries and later recovered after a long stay at hospital” he said.
He warned against smuggling and human trafficking, stating that the new patrol strategies adopted by the sector in line with the presidential directive against smuggling has stringent punitive measure to deal with perpetrators.
“This trend of unprovoked attacks by faceless cowards whose intention is to instill fear in the minds of law enforcement operatives shall not go unpunished. Neither will it dampen the resolve of our officers and men from carrying out their statutory duties.
“I wish to categorically state that we will continue to carry out the anti-smuggling crusade in spite of the unwarranted attacks,” he added.
The Customs boss advised parents and guardians to warn their wards to desist from obstructing operatives from performing their legitimate duties as the Sector would not hesitate to use appropriate force in line with rules of engagement, which would leave the officers with no other alternative than to defend themselves in the interest of the nation.
End
