The Nigerian Navy said it has intercepted a boat carrying 80 bags of
rice allegedly smuggled into the country from Benin Republic through
water ways.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)
BEECROFT, Elizabeth Ibrahim, said the operatives attached to its
Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, intercepted the 80 bags of
rice.
“A wooden boat being used to ferry the bags of rice was also
intercepted by naval operatives while on a patrol at the Iyana-Ipaahi
water ways around the Badagry creeks.
“The Commanding Officer, FOB Badagry, Capt. Abdulhakeem Ojebode, who
handed over the seized bags of rice to the personnel of the Nigerian
Customs, said the suspects of the boat fled on sighting the naval
operatives,” she said.
The statement quoted Mr. Ojebode as saying that the suspects abandoned
the commodity and the boat and jumped into the river on sighting the
Navy Patrol Vessel.
“This operation goes in line with the roles of the Navy to protect the
territorial waters of Nigeria.
“The operation also goes in line in supporting the Nigerian Customs in
its duty of ensuring that smugglers don’t use our waterways to bring
items adjudged contraband into Nigeria,” Mr. Ojebode said.
Mr. Ojebode further stressed that he and his officers would not rest
but put in more efforts in the fight against smuggling in the country
so as to checkmate this vice.
The statement also quoted the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, Western
Marine Command, Nigerian Customs, Usman Abubakar, as commending the
efforts of the navy in checking criminality on the nation’s waterways.
“I hail the effectiveness of the navy’s intelligence gathering.
“I appeal for continuous assistance from the navy to reduce smuggling
to the barest minimum in the country,” Mr. Abubakar said.
“The command will not relent in dealing with persons who decide to
test the will of the customs and other security agencies,” he said.
(NAN)
