KATSINA: How I secured my freedom from bandits with seven bags of seized rice – Customs officer

NIGERIA Customs officers  have said they are not immune to attacks from bandits too, as they have had encounters with them several times in the course of discharging their duties.

The coordinator of the sector 4 command, joint border patrol team of the NCS  in the northwest said this yesterday while addressing journalists in Katsina.

Mohammed said he once had to secure his freedom from bandits by offering offering seven bags of seized rice to them.

He  said the incident occurred in Dutsinma LGA of the state.

Mohammed said this while speaking on the myriads of challenges that confront customs officers in the course of discharging their duties.

He also lamented the  inadequate support they get from people at the border communities.

“The challenge we have is that the people we are working for are not supporting us. If we have any problem, just accidental discharge in a village, the whole people will bounce on customs. If you make seizure, instead of the villagers to assist you, they may end up attacking you,” Mohammed said.

“I sacrificed my life to enter the bush where the bandits are — the last time we had contact with them — to the extent that they were a little bit friendly with us.

“We seized 37 bags of rice and they said if we are to go, they have to take seven bags. So, we gave them seven bags to save our lives.

“So, you see the risks we take, but people, especially those living along the border communities, engage in attacking our officers.