Customs Deny Blocking Of Idiroko-Sango Ota Road By Smugglers

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has debunked a media report in one of the national tabloids, alleging that a gang of smugglers barricaded the popular Idiroko-Sango Ota Road in Ogun State, describing it as a complete misrepresentation of a traffic incident.

In a statement issued yesterday by the command’s public relations officer (C-PRO), Zakari Chado, the command described the said report as misleading.

In the statement, Chado explained that the traffic gridlock was caused by an accident involving a trailer truck, which broke down after falling into a bad portion of the Idiroko – Sango Ota road in Atan axis, thereby leading to a temporary obstruction of vehicular movement and not as a result of the activities of smugglers in Ogun State.

Chado, a deputy superintendent of Customs, further clarified that all the vehicles trapped in the resulting congestion were legitimate commercial trucks conveying palm oil to local markets and, as such, “had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities”.

He explained that the sheer number of heavy-duty vehicles caught in the traffic mistakenly led some members of the public to conclude that smugglers had taken over the road, a claim the Command insisted was entirely unfounded.

“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. A road accident and poor road conditions caused the disruption. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.

Lamenting the degree of embarrassment which such unverified publication has caused the Command, the Customs PRO, however, appealed to journalists, social media users and members of the public to exercise restraint and always verify information before rushing to the press to publish, noting that circulation of such reports is capable of undermining the public confidence in security agencies.

Chado emphasised that publication of such an allegation was clearly “inconsistent with the current security reality within the Ogun I Area Command, which had intensified anti-smuggling operations under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.

He added, “Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has sustained intelligence-driven surveillance, strengthened collaboration with other security agencies and community stakeholders, and maintained sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors. These efforts have resulted in notable seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity”.

He urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims that could diminish the achievements of security personnel or create a false impression of lawlessness in the border communities.

“The fight against smuggling remains a continuous responsibility; accurate reporting is equally essential to ensure that genuine operational successes are not overshadowed by misinformation”.

Chado, however, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining the anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate trade in line with the Service’s statutory mandate.