The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said it has confiscated 4,500 jerry cans, with 25 liters capacity of petroleum products each, at Bahindi village, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, in charge of Border Drill Operation, Alhaji Bashir Abubakar, disclosed this yesterday, during a courtesy visit to the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu.
Abubakar, who is the coordinator of Border Drill Exercise, Sector 4 command, said his team had observed that many filling stations at the border areas have been receiving supply of petroleum products, but are not selling to customers, and preferred to smuggle it outside the country.
He restated that security reports of influx of arms and ammunition and illegal immigrants, capable of creating crisis and affecting economy of the country, was the reason for the border closure.
“The Federal Government felt that action must be taken, something needs to be done immediately, this necessitated partial closure of the border from 6am to 6pm in selected routes.
“The movement of goods is only allowed through specified routes, seaports and airports, not on motorcycles and others smuggling bags of foreign rice through bush path into the country,” he said
The team leader stated that the operation couldn’t be entirely successful without cooperation from the citizens, saying the security agencies are devoted to protecting the lives, property and liberty of the people.
Responding the Kebbi State Governor, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Samila Dabai lauded the efforts of the officials and commended steps taken by the Federal Government to ensure security of the nation’s borders.
SOURCE: GuardianNigeria