AJOKE PHILIP
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has called on Nigerians to rise against smugglers’ increasing tendency to resort to violence to pull through their criminal acts.
Speaking against the backdrop of the gruesome murder of three Officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A in Ogun State, the the national public relations officer of the service, Compt. Joseph Attah, lamented that no one has expressed outrage over the death of the officers who died in the course of protecting the nation against economic saboteurs.
BUSINESSinsiderng reports that dare devil smugglers in October killed three Customs Officers in anti-smuggling patrol and stealing rifles of one of them.
According to him, Nigerians must rise against smugglers’ increasing tendency to resort to violence to pull through their criminal acts.
He, however, called those who support criminality by physically attacking officers or pushing narratives that strengthen smugglers as enemies of state.
“There appears to be a conspiracy of silence concerning the deaths of Customs anti smuggling operatives. In no distant past, we heard loud voices criticising NCS about injuries and purported killings of some Nigerians in clear cases of violence against Officers performing their legitimate duties.
Those voices seem no longer loud in condemning the murder of Customs Officers. The Service within October 2021, lost 3 operatives with many sustaining serious injuries.
Premised on trump up charges of ” invasion and burning of houses at a village” some supposedly responsible individuals are going to town with write ups that sweeps officers deaths under the carpet while dwelling on an allegation that has been debunked by the NCS with verifiable evidences.
Nigerians must rise against smugglers’ increasing tendency to resort to violence to pull through their criminal acts. Those who support criminality by either physically attacking Officers or pushing narratives that strengthen smugglers are enemies of state and should be seen as such, no matter their claim of “defending fellow Citizens”
We refuse to be intimidated by these merchants of violence. We remain focused on the job of ensuring that NOTHING that is capable of compromising National security and economy is allowed entry or exit.
NCS therefore urges well meaning Nigerians not to be distracted by this selective “concern” for human life and continue to support the Service to serve the Country better.”