Gov Radda Decries Harassment Of Border Communities

Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda has expressed concern over the persistent aggression on residents of some Katsina communities, by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), anti-smuggling special force.

The governor urged the NCS to renew its fight against the smuggling of arms and illicit drugs, which has been fueling armed banditry across the North West.

He made the call when he received the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the incessant killings of people smuggling rice and other prohibited goods into the country by officers of the Nigeria Customs.

The committee which is chaired by Senator Francis Fadahunsi has Senators Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, Adeola Olamilekan, Shuaib Salisu, Kawu Sumaila, Tony Nwoye and Suleiman Sadiq as members.

The governor received the committee on Monday at the Government House in Katsina, accompanied by some senior Custom officials from the Federal Operations Unit Zone B.

In a statement issued by Governor Radda’s spokesman, Ibrahim Mohammed Kaula, the governor observed that as much as the Nigeria Customs Service will stop the smuggling of contraband food items, it is more important for the agency to also curb the smuggling of arms and illicit drugs into the country.

The statement read, “In as much as it is essential to stop the smuggling of food items such as rice and tiger nuts among others, it is more of a priority for the Customs to curb the movement of arms and illicit drugs through our borders because these contraband items end up in the hands of armed bandits.

“Curbing the smuggling of arms will also complement ongoing efforts by security agencies in the fight against bandits and other armed groups operating in different parts of the country. I have interacted at length with the members of the committee, we support their work, and we hereby call on our people that reside along the borders to cooperate with them.”

Earlier, Senator Fadaunshi said they were in fact-finding on a fact-finding mission over the alleged harassment of members of Jibia communities by personnel of the Nigeria Customs.