NCS, Seme Area Command open up on Illegal arms deal

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  1. Illegal arms deal

    From Benjamin A Ameh, Lagos

    Rejoinder daily sun newspaper publication, Monday, December 1, 2014  front page with titled : “colonel fingered in illegal arms deal”.

    The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command has been drawn to the Daily Sun Newspaper Publication of Monday, December 1, 2014 front page captioned “COLONEL FINGERED IN ILLEGAL ARMS DEAL”. Ordinarily, the Command would have chosen to ignore this fabrication considering that the border is not only manned by us but, with other Security Agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, the DSS, the NDLEA, the Police Border Patrol among others; but for the misinformation this will bring to the general public especially at this sensitive security period in the country. We deem it fit to expose the intention behind this cheap blackmail of the Service by one named Osita Okereke, Director–General, National Task Force (NATFORCE) on illegal importation of small Arms, Ammunitions and Light weapons.

    According to the press statement signed by Egbudin Willy, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command said on 20th October, 2014 the NATFORCE approached the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command with a letter seeking for approval to mount illegal Checkpoint on the international route of SEME/KRAKE road. The Command however advised NATFORCE to route their request through the appropriate authority and to dismantle their illegal Checkpoint forthwith. It is also on record that NATFORCE, a personal and private unregistered association has taken to court the DSS, POLICE, NSCDC and CUSTOMS consequent upon the arrest of some NATFORCE members for illegal Checkpoint and extortion in the various states of the Federation sometimes in 2012.

    Willy further revealed that against our advice, the so called NATFORCE came and mounted an illegal Checkpoint without approval from the appropriate authority. Consequently, a decision was taken by the Joint Border Security Meeting to dismantle the illegal Checkpoint, only for them to come up with this cheap blackmail some days later.

    The Customs Area Controller wish to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the said publication and it is a mere figment of imagination meant to embarrass the Service  and more importantly: there is no reported incident of importation and release of arms, ammunitions, light weapons and contraband from Seme Border.  It should be noted that apart from the presence of Nigeria Customs officials on the Seme/Krake route, there are other security personnel on the route like, the Immigration Service, Police Border Patrol, the Army, DSS and other Security Agencies, there is no established facts of any person named Nura or a top Officer of the Nigeria Customs at Seme Border that liaised with an Army Officer on November, 20, there is no reported incident to the knowledge of Nigerian Customs that  NATFORCE  was overpowered by an Army Colonel which led trucks of loaded Ammunition through Seme Border, the functions and duties of the Nigerian Customs Service is regulated by Statute, Customs and Excise Management Act and that is to ensure the collection of statutory duties and prevention of importation of prohibited goods including arms and ammunitions and if the so called NATFORCE, D-G is sure of his facts, the Command demand from him to present the identity of the Ten Trucks, the Importers and probably the receivers. Furthermore, to have kept such sensitive information to himself for over 3 months speaks volume.

    Finally, Willy made it cleared that the Seme/Krake axis is an internationally recognised route and regulated by the ECOWAS TREATY and CONVENTIONS. Only the MDAs and Government Securities Agencies as approved by the Federal Government are allowed presence on the route. No attempts and publications of calumny and unverified statements can deter the Nigeria Customs Service from performing its statutory roles.

     
     


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