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BY INNOCENT OROK
Col. Hameed Ali (rtd)
Three weeks into the intensive joint border patrol by the security agencies, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has said that it continued to receive reports of large numbers of seizures and arrests from the four sectors of North West, North Central, South West, and South South geopolitical zones.
DC Joseph Attah, Spokesman NCS/ Operation Swift Response
In a release signed by Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) who also doubled as the spokesman for the operation ‘Swift Response’ said that
as at 10 September 2019 the joint operation has arrested 100 illegal migrants.
Other seizures so far made by the team within the three weeks includes 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; three outboard 40HP Engines; 13 Cotonou boats; 185 drums of groundnut oil; six trucks; 114 motorcycles; among other items with 117 suspects.
Attah said 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, Brigadier General Emmanuel Aliyu Ndagi have commenced an on the spot assessment of the implementation and compliance of the ongoing border security drills.
“The exercise, which is 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 is intended to better secure our 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.” The statement concludes.
