…Arrests 117 suspects
…100 illegal migrants
Three weeks after the nation’s borders in the four geopolitical zones of the North West, North Central, South West and South-South were partially closed and a joint security exercise codenamed Ex-Swift Response launched at the borders by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA); the Joint Security patrol team has recorded a number of seizures.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah in a statement yesterday in Abuja gave the breakdown of the seizures to include; 8,360-50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 122 bags of fertilizer; 77 vehicles; 781 drums filled with PMS as well as 16, 371 empty 200 litres drums to be used for smuggling PMS; 1,491 packs of assorted drugs; 3 outboard 40HP Engines; 13 Cotonou boats; 185 drums of groundnut oil; 6 trucks and 114 motorcycles among other items.
Attah disclosed that a total of 117 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures just as 100 illegal migrant were also arrested within the period.
He noted that as part of the efforts to sustain the rigorous patrol along the national borderlines, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandade and the Coordinator of the exercise, Brig Gen Emmanuel Aliyu Ndagi have commenced an on the spot assessment of the implementation and compliance of the ongoing border security drills.
He added that the exercise, which was being led by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies was intended to better secure the Nigerian borders, boost national economy and strengthen border security.
“Accordingly, we continue to appeal to the patriotic spirit of all Nigerians, especially members of the business community to see the exercise as an opportunity to further create a conducive environment for local businesses to thrive in the overall interest of national security and development”, Attah stated.
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