June 10, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Sokoto/Zamfara Customs Area Command have rejected the sum of One million, Five hundred thousand naira offered them by some railway vandals in Sokoto State.
The Comptroller of Customs, Kamal Muhammed, disclosed this while handing over a truck conveying 20-foot container-laden railway tracks and three suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Muhammad, on the 8th of June, 2024, said operatives from his Command clamped down on the suspects known to be a notorious cartel, who specialise in the vandalisation of railway tracks.
“They were in a truck conveying a 20-foot container laden with vandalised railway tracks along with three (3) suspects who were intercepted by the Command monitoring team at Kajiji along Kebbi road.
“The suspects could not tender evidence of allocation from the Federal Ministry of Transport, instead made an overture to bribe the officers with N1.5 million and even made an advance cash offer of N300,000.
“However, out of patriotism and integrity, my Officers chose the path of honour by detaining them at the Command Headquarters.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) is the Agency mandated to secure Critical National assets, conforming with the Collaboration Policy thrust of the CGC”.
The Area Comptroller said the truck, its content and the sum of N300,000 cash has been handed over to the Commander NSCDC Sokoto Command for further investigation and prosecution.
In the same vein, Mr Muhammad said other operatives under the aegis of Zone ‘B’ whirlwind tactical team with reinforcement by Officers and men of the Area Command also intercepted 11, 270 litres of premium spirit (PMS) popularly known as petroleum.
He said the seizure of the product is in an effort to curtail smuggling and economic sabotage of petroleum products.
“The Command has auctioned 11,270 litres of seized Premium Motor Spirit to the general public at the official rate of N180.
“The decision is in compliance with the CGC’s matching order to seal up all routes used for the smuggling of petroleum products.
“It could be recalled that the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR on the 22 of May 2024 inaugurated an intelligence-driven tactical team code-named Whirlwind assigned with the sole mandate of combatting the smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.
He also stated that the maritime and cross-border smuggling of PMS has a negative impact on the overall supply chain of the product in addition to the possibility of funding criminal activities with the proceeds.
“Even with the removal of subsidy, the smuggling of PMS brings about an extra cost burden on the country both in terms of security of supply and securing of the scarce foreign exchange used to import the product”, Muhammad said.
The Area Comptroller noted that the service is poised to continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interest with dedication and integrity without fear or favour in tandem with the provision of the law.
“In line with extant laws and the approval by the Comptroller General of Customs, the seized PMS will be auctioned to the general public today at a token of 180 Naira per litre.”
He, however, warned the smugglers to desist from their dastardly act as the long arm of the law will surely catch up with them in no distant time.
Muhammad also appreciates the continuous support and effort of the newsmen towards upholding the rule of law and protecting the Nation’s interest.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
