Ogun State is not a war Zone : Compt Nnadi warns smugglers against incessant attacks on Customs

Ogun State is not a war Zone :
Compt Nnadi warns smugglers against incessant attacks on Customs

* Meets Council of Obas

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Ogun 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Compt Dera Nnadi, has
intensified efforts in building a mutual working relationship with host communities and stakeholders in Ogun State, in order to change the negative narrative of portraying the State as a war Zone.

The Area Controller frowned at incessant attacks on Customs operatives, warning smugglers to desist from attacking officers carrying out their statutory duties in the State.

Our news inquest revealed that since he assumed office in the last one month, Compt Nnadi has been working assiduously in sensitising Traditional Rulers on the dangers of smuggling and attacking officers on duty. He appealed to Traditional Rulers to use their Palaces in enlightening their wards on the consequences of attacking security operatives.

So far, he held
meetings with the Council of Obas in Yewa land, where about 35 community leaders attended. He equally met Traditional Rulers of various communities within the State, all in efforts to ensure a cordial relationship between the Service and host communities.

Speaking during a similar meeting at Yewa Traditional Council, in the Palace of Olu of Ilaro, as well as the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Compt Nnadi mentioned the recent killing of two Customs officers just last month October, 2021 by suspected smugglers in the State.

The CAC urged Royal Fathers in Yewaland, which is the operational base of officers to change the negative image tagging Yewa community as a territory where security agents are being killed.

He said, “the news of brutality in Yewa land can scare investors away. We are going to change the narrative of Yewa land to a peaceful place where indigenes cooperate with Customs officers to curb smuggling.

“Going to history, Yewa land was known to be a peaceful environment and not a place with high level of smuggling and brutality on Customs operatives.”

Also, at the Palace of the Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta, Oba Sabur Babajide Bakre, a retired Customs officer, the CAC emphasised that Ogun 1 Command under his watch is not out to militarise the host communities; but to promote synergy and work in tandem with the vision of CGC Hameed Ali to enhance economic growth.

The Traditional Rulers in their remarks attributed brutality and reccuring attacks on officers to a long period of border closure forcing the youths to look for other means of livelihood.

More so, while Compt Nnadi assured the community leaders of taking their complaints to the Service management, he insisted that indigenes of the host communities must not attack officers for any reason.

Addressing Journalists yesterday, on activities of the Command in the last one month, Compt Nnadi stressed that the Service will not condone such violent attacks on officers.

His words;; ‘We have been engaging with Royal Fathers of the State and appealed to them to warn their subjects to desist from smuggling and attacks on Customs personnel. Let me use this medium to thank them for accepting to continuously help in this direction. We are also reaching out to the State Governor, who is the Chief Security officer of the State in this direction and the future looks mutually very rewarding for Nigeria Customs Service and the State.”

The CAC warned strongly; “Subsequently, let me once more warn smugglers and criminal elements in the State that we shall definitely uncover every illegal act of theirs, make arrest and inflict gross financial injury on such ventures and their perpetrators.

“It suffices to say that the continuous attacks on Customs and other security operatives in the State by these unpatriotic people will not deter us from sustaining the onslaught on their smuggling activities. We are determined more than ever before to carry out our anti- smuggling operations without hindrance.”

Below are pictures taken during such meetings :