Nweke Laments Killing of Customs Officers And Smuggling Activities

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Maritime resource person and former President of the National Association of government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Eugene Nweke Rff has added his voice to others in condemning the worrisome  increasing rate of attacks and killing of operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Against the backdrop of the recent killing of two officers attached to the Kebbi Customs Command during a patrol along Dakingari and Koko axis of the state,  has sent a position paper to the Government of the Federation on what should be done to halt situation leading to fracas, attacks and killings.

The proposal titled “THE RECENT ATTACKS ON CUSTOMS OFFICER IN THE LINE OF DUTY BY SMUGGLERS AND THEIR ALLIES” reads:

Preamble:

Firstly, my heartfelt sympathy goes to the families of the demised Officers, as well as commemorating with the Service. We all pray that their souls and the souls of other faithfuls departed find mercies and rest with the Creator.

Secondly, every sane and patriotic citizen has a moral obligation to condemn any form of smuggling activities in our republic. Killing an officer of the republic in the line of his national duties is an open confrontation and attack on the republic itself, as such leadership must arise to stem the rising incident squarely.

NEED TO X-RAY FACTORS PROMOTING SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IN THE NATION:

It must be pointed out that International trade between nations thrives within the corridor of the international frontiers , and the law empowers the Customs to Mann and protect the international frontiers for the reasons of revenue generation and prevention and suppressing of unwanted or prohibited trade and services into the country.

In discharging these national duties over the years, several factors does promotes smuggling activities in the republic, which overtime continues to expose security officers to dangers and wanton killing of innocent Officers.

These trending factors needed to be purposefully x-rayed on one hand and the then develop the political and economic will to address the menace squarely. Wherefore, to consider how to stop smuggling activities and its associated killings of officers in the line of their duties. It is aptly necessary to address the following key factors amongst other factors promoting smuggling activities in the land, which includes but not limited to:

a). High Unemployment & Poverty Rate .

b). Hash Economic climate.

c). Government Policies / Unequalled praying field.

d). Lifestyle of Political Leaders/ Flamboyance.

e). Quest for Materialism & High Profiteering Tendencies.

f). Corruptions/Security Compromises.

g). Non Adherence To International Protocols, e.g. Trade Liberalisation Scheme/ Trade Prohibition.

h). Porous Border Protection.

“In tackling the above factors squarely the issues relating to killing of officers will be addressing reasonably, as researches has shown that no nation can totally eradicate smuggling activities.”

Recall that during the Kebbi attacks that led to the killing of Abdullahi Mohammed and A.K Shehu, the suspected bandits carted away one of the deceased’s rifles, AK-47. The Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’  a day earlier also came under attack by suspected smugglers whilst on their legitimate patrol duties to the Dankama Area of Katsina State on Wednesday, 23 August 2023; leaving one officer badly injured.