KEBBI: Customs intercepts 73 guns buried inside rice truck

THE Nigeria Customs Service has disclosed that its personnel intercepted 73 guns buried inside a rice truck heading to Kebbi State.

In a statement released to journalists on Sunday, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attach Albashir, said officers attached to the operation unit Zone B, intercepted the truck along the Yauri, Zamare Waterside axis of the state.

According to the statement, the intercepted truck was brimful of locally produced rice with some sacks concealed under the rice where the guns were kept.

Confirming the development, the NSC Zone B FOU Controller, Hamisu Albashir, said that the intercepted guns were locally made, adding that 891 cartridges were also recovered.

The custom boss added that the arrested occupants are being detained while preliminary investigation is ongoing to unravel those behind the smuggling activities.

He, however, restated the service commitment toward curbing smuggling of harmful items into the country through all zones across the country.

Albashir called on members of the public, particularly, border community dwellers to work together with the customs officers to ensure borders are not porous.

He urged them never to hesitate to provide credible information for effective border security.

The country’s land borders have been closed since August 2019.

According to the Federal Government the decision was taken to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms and agricultural products into country from neighbouring West African nations.

But, about a month ago, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, assured Nigerians that the borders will be opened very soon.

Speaking with journalists Ahmed stated that the presidential committee set up on the matter had completed its job and recommended the reopening of the borders.

She said the committee would soon submit its report to President Buhari following which a formal pronouncement would be made on the matter.

The president too gave a fresh assurance this month that the borders will be reopened soon.

Both the president and minister, however, did not give a specific date for the reopening.

With this development, the government may extend the date for the reopening.