From Mijinyawa Al-sirajdeen, Minna
The Niger/Kogi Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service has raked in over N238 million as duty within the last two months the area comptroller of the command Mr. Busayo Kadejo has disclosed.
He added that, a total sum N50, 839,238 was generated as revenue within the period under review which were principally from demand notice.
Addressing journalists at a press conference at the command headquarters in Minna Wednesday, Mr Kadejo stated that 21 bales of second hand clothing, 90 bags of fertilizer, 116 kegs of 25 litres and 36 bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice were also intercepted by the area command within the same period.
According to the area comptroller, the achievements were as due to massive intelligence and the rules of engagement deployed which resulted in no casualties in their effort to carry out the mandate of the comptroller general of the service.
He indicated that on assumption of office, he engaged the border communities, other sister security agencies and other stakeholders to Forster cordial working relationship and synergy towards achieving future operations.
He pointed out that the area command will soon meet with the two state governors and the traditional rulers to speak to them to advise their subjects to desist from act capable of destroying the country’ s economy
Speaking further, he disclosed that 57 units of exotic cars and other vehicles were seized and a total of seven suspects arrested, detained and released on administrative bail.
He warned that the Niger and Kogi area command of the service under his watch will go all out against the activities of smugglers and other criminal elements within the command for them to either turn new leaf or be ready to face the full wrath of the command.
“I wish to warn smugglers and other criminal elements, no matter how highly placed in the society, that we will not spare you.
“Our job is to execute government policies. We have made seizures of vehicles with federal government number plates.
“Smugglers should note that we will always discover all illegal routes and ways used in smuggling and make seizures, arrest and cripple them.” Mr Busayo declared.
While calling on the public and other critical stakeholders to always assist his area command with useful information on the activities of smugglers under his command, the area comptroller expressed appreciation to other sister security agencies and the media for their reportage on the activities of the area command.