Customs: Kwara Command Gets Commendation Letter After #ENDSARS Protest
By Babatunde Sodiq
…Generates N6.9bn in 2020
…Seizes Items Worth N345m, 3551 Bags of foreign rice
The Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service received commendation letter for their gallantry display when #ENDSARS Protesters invaded their office in October 2020, FactualTimes reports.
The Comptroller of Kwara Command, Comp Ahmed Hussaini Ahmed while briefing newsmen on success recorded in 2020 at Command Headquarters Ilorin on Tuesday.
His words: ”I’m happy to inform you today that the aftermath of EndSar Protest was a commendation letter sent to us by the Comptroller General of Customs and his able management team for exhibiting such gallantry, in terms of excellent performance, integrity, high ethical standard, good conduct and unalloyed commitment to the service.”
He said hoodlums that disguised as #Endsars Protesters attacked their office on October 23, 2020 with an obvious intention of looting and setting the command and government properties ablaze.
According to Comt troller Ahmed, the hoodlums came in large numbers armed with guns, machetes, axes, charms and other dangerous weapons in an attempt to unleash mayhem on the Command. During the mob action, two of our officers sustained varying degrees of injuries. It is important to state that Twenty Seven (27) motorcycles and Two (2) Keke Napeps meant to move goods out of the command were seized and Two (2) suspects arrested during the encounter.
He said Kwara Command generated N6.9billion in 2020 which represent 86precent of the year target as well as increase when compare with N2.4billion raked in 2019.
Ahmed said Kwara area Command that was created on May 21, 2019 under his leadership generated and remitted N 9,310,734,065.11k into the federation account.
Speaking further, he explained that the great feat through measures put in place to apprehend economic saboteurs and collaboration with other border security agencies in policing our land borders.
He lauded the Command officers for uncompromising in the war against fraudulent activities perpetrated by smugglers.
FactualTimes correspondent reports that Kwara Command recorded 84 seizures with the duty paid value (DPV) of N345, 205,100million in 2020
The seizures include;
3,551 Bags of foreign parboiled Rice (Approximately Five (5) Trailers of Rice)
51 Used Vehicles of various make
3,543 Kg of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)
225 Kegs of vegetables oil
30 Jerricans of PMS
The command also arrested Six suspects during the period under review.
On inter- agency collaboration and synergy, he 48 sacks containing 3,593kg of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) have been handed over to NDLEA, noting that collaboration with Nigerian Army paid off when hoodlums attacked their headquarters during #Endsars protest as two hoodlums arrested were also handed over to the Nigeria Police.
He appreciated compliant stakeholders and border communities for their cooperation and support.
He said Kwara command will continue to support the ongoing border drill operations with a view to protect the nation from insecurity and menace of smuggling.