The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has Seized Smuggled Items Worth 50.7 million Naira and burst the new methods bandits use in the forest to charge their phones. It says they now import Universal Serial Bus, USB chargers.
This is as a result of the Security Challenges Containment Order shutting down all charging points in the affected 17 Frontline Local Government Areas bedevilled by activities of banditry.
The Acting Area Comptroller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Dalha Wada said this during a stakeholders meeting of the revived Customs/Community Consultative Forum.
He added that the command from September 5 to October 8, made a seizure of items worth 50.7 million Naira in Duty Paid Value.
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The Acting Katsina Customs Area Comptroller, Dalha Wada said, the Customs/Community Consultative Forum meeting was at the instance of the Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Colonel Hameed Ali, aimed at enlightening Nigerians on the functions of the service.
He said the forum became necessary, to ensure that all the people in the border communities are properly guided and informed, to avert a recurrence of ugly incidences, as well as to stop smuggling activities along border communities, to bring about employment generation, safeguarding their physical and mental health, by arresting drugs peddlers, and boosting economic development.
On the part of security, Wada said the command has arrested so many suspected bandits, and seized drugs used by them, cut their supply channels, as well as burst the methods they use to charge their phones, and jet fuel due to the security challenges containment order shutting down charging points and banning the sales of petrol in Jerry cans.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders at the meeting, the Special Adviser To The Governor On Security Matters, Ibrahim Katsina, described it as a step in the right direction, saying it will usher in a good relationship between the customs and the border communities.
He said the message to the Customs from the government is that they should operate with a human face, by being humane, rather than be harsh.
He also emphasized the need for public enlightenment, saying it is key to soliciting cooperation amongst the residents so that they can win the war against smuggling.
The meeting brought together several stakeholders, including Border Community Leaders, Religious and Traditional Leaders, Youth Associations and Civil Society Organizations, among others.
Meanwhile, items seized during the period under review from September 5 to October 8 include, 10 vehicles worth 28.3 million Naira in Duty Paid Value, and twelve food and non-food items worth 22.4 million Naira in Duty Paid Value, bringing to total seizures worth 50.7 million Naira.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
