The Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, Ogun I Command says it has restored control and intensify security at the border after the EndSARS protest.
This development according to the Customs command Spokesperson, Hammed Oloyede, in a press statement, was informed by the recent nationwide EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums and smugglers particularly at the border areas.
Oloyede stated that,“our Area Command suffered several vicious attacks in which an officer (AIC Solomon Alayge) was killed and others injured”
In his brief, he recalled the ugly chaos faced by the command in October 2020, along Idiroko road that left an NCS officer dead with others who sustained injuries, he also noted that many of their patrol teams were attacked, their patrol bases vandalized and set ablaze.
“Our Officers and Men were trapped as a result of the multiple attacks suffered along Oja-Odan, Ilaro (along Ilaro/Oja- Odan/Obele border), Ihunbo, Adisba, Owode (along Idiroko axis), Ijoun and Imeko”
“Many of our personnel’s belongings including uniforms and other valuables were looted. Many of our patrol vehicles were vandalized”
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller of Ogun State Command, Controller Michael Agbara, Mr. Oloyede noted “as what seems to be a premeditated action, the said hoodlums/smugglers in large number seized the opportunity of the security challenge which made all security agencies focused on protecting their operatives and facilities at that period embarked on massive smuggling of rice and vehicles for about three days.
However, the Command afterwards intensified effort by strengthening her workforce with reinforcement from the military. This assisted in beefing up security and restoring control in the Command.
As a result of the control measures put in place, attempt by the hoodlums to attack our Government Warehouses at Idiroko, Abeokuta and other critical government facilities were resisted.
He stated further that, “In the same vein, with bravery and gallantry of Officers and men of the Command coupled with the maximum support of the Military, the Command recorded the under listed seizures after the restoration of law and order across our borders.
Two thousand, nine hundred and forty seven (2,947) 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, one thousand eight hundred and seventy five (1,875) litres of PMS, eighteen (18) units of vehicles, four (4) units of motorcycles, ten (10) Sacks and one thousand six hundred and fifty eight pieces of cannabis sativa (India hemp), one hundred and fifty nine (159) cartons of sugar, thirty (30) cartons of tomato paste, twelve (12) cartons of cosmetics & soaps, nineteen (19) cartons of insecticides, and seven (7) kegs of 25 litres of vegetable oil.
“In addition, it’s worthy to note that the Command during the third quarter of year 2020, successfully recorded four hundred and twenty 420 seizures comprising the items stated below: 11,146 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50 kg each) an average of 18 trailer loads per month, 86 units of Vehicles, 39 units of Motorcycle (Means of Conveyance), 10 kegs of Vegetable oil (25 liters each), 81 bales, 34 Sacks of Secondhand clothing, 1 Sack and 1,344 Pairs of Used Shoes, 1,814 Cartons of Frozen Poultry Products, 299,450 liters of PMS (Petrol), 127 Kegs of Palm oil (25 liters each), 1,225 liters of Diesel, 75 liters of Kerosene, 363 pcs of Handbags, 17 Cartons Body Cream, 12 bags by 50kg and 4 Cartons of Sugar, 37 sacks comprising 190 Book size, 883 Wraps and coconut Size Packs of Cannabis sativa, 213 Pieces of Used tyres, 24 Sacks of Pesticide, 210 Sacks of Black soap Chemical, 6 Packs of Ghana Soap, 8 Cartons of Imported Soaps, 10,775 Pieces of different types of Plastic Rubber, 410 Pieces of Textile (Wrapper), 172 Pairs of Rubber Slippers, 5 Sacks of Alligator Pepperruary 13,