Wole Adedeji, Ilorin.
Operatives of the Operation JOINT BORDER DRILL, consisting of men of the Customs, the military, Police and other security agencies, have arrested some foreigners crossing Nigerian border bearing arms and ammunition.
Coordinator of the operation in the North Central Zone, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Customs Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Garba, who briefed journalists, said those arrested were Beninese and Nigeriens.
According to him, “Seven Beninoise and 13 Nigerien illegal migrants with 3 Long Single Barrel Guns, Knives and 3 Cutlasses at Lokoja in the Zone and had already been handed over to ‘B’ Division Police Station Lokoja, Kogi State.”
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Garba said another foreign national was arrested and found with Long Single Barrel Guns, 8 life cartridges and one locally made Pistol on them at Kotangora axis of Niger State, who had also been handed over to ‘A’ Division Police Station Kotangora.
At the press briefing, in Ilorin, the Operation BORDER DRILL Coordinator paraded fleet of cars seized from smugglers and stuffed with contrabands attempting to be brought into the country with the vehicles.
According to him, the seized vehicles were various types; 57 in all which were intercepted carrying foreign rice, bales of secondhand clothes and clothing materials, groundnut oil, foreign cosmetics and tin tomatoes”
Garba added that some foreign nationals were also arrested at the borders trying to cross into Nigeria with arms in their custody and they had been handed over to the police force for proper investigation and prosecution.
He disclosed that ; “The Joint Border Operations team is always in military mood to ensure total compliance that would translate to effective revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and protecting our national security”
Meanwhile, Garba said the team would also employ dialogue processes with border communities and all stakeholders with the aim to achieving the goals for which the operation was established.
His continued, “We will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public for the reasons behind border closure which is aimed at social and economic stability of our dear nation.
“On the other hand, enforcement of government policies will always be accorded utmost priority with strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines”, he said.
He, however, expressed appreciation to all the security agencies in the team as well as the people who he said had been cooperating with the him to record huge successes.
“We commend the synergy we are receiving from sister agencies, opinion leaders, head of traditional institutions, media, eminent personalities and other law abiding members of the public.
“We will continue to count on your support in the discharge of our statutory functions,” Garba concluded.
