Who are the owners of the over 30,000 live cartridges bound for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, intercepted by men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command? Nobody knows yet. Residents of the city are scared, but the command has promised that the owners of the lethal goods will be found. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.
Many who witnessed the seizure of 30,000 live ammunitions along Saki border between Nigeria and Benin Republic were shocked at the amount of weapons being smuggled into Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by people suspected to be agents of politicians, who are determined to win elections at all cost.
The smuggling of the live ammunitions, described as a great threat to security of lives and property, may not be unconnected with the 2015 general elections, with contending political parties re-grouping for the battle ahead.
It was all praises from members of the public for the men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Command for the gallantry and ingenuity employed to apprehend and identity the ammunitions as the smuggled items were laid bare on floor.
The plan to smuggle the items into the ancient city was not only thwarted, the smugglers failed to deliver the live cartridges to their principal and thus failed in their plans which many believe would have set the state on fire if they had succeeded. Observers said that the inability to deliver the ammunitions to its destination has greater meaning for the security of the state.
The live cartridges, which were being transported into Ibadan from the neighbouring Republic of Benin were carefully concealed under tubers of yam and yam flour before men of the Customs Service intercepted the items at Oje-Owode along Shaki-Ago-Are road in Oyo State.
Also arrested was the 45-year-old driver of the Toyota Hiace bus, Abdulraheem Adegoke.
The elated Customs’ Area Commander for Oyo/Osun, Mr. Oteri Richard, explained that the items were packed in 20 cartons. He said the team led by S. C. Okoli arrested the white colour Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KW 286 SHH along Saki-Ago-Are axis in the early hours of the day.
According to him, the arms were concealed within yam tubers and bags of dried cassava tubers.
On May 18, 2013, the command similarly made a seizure of 56,750 rounds of live cartridges along the same Saki axis.
Oteri further said the command was poised and passionate about building on the success recorded in the past years. According to him, this monumental seizure was commendable to say the least against the backdrop of the heightened insecurity in the country.
He, therefore, warned unpatriotic Nigerians, who engage in smuggling of unwholesome goods that “we are more determined now than ever to make Oyo/Osun command, a no hiding place for their nefarious activities while promising trade facilitation to all legitimate businessmen and women in the area.
“We will continue to partner with other security agencies to make the command and indeed the country at large a safe place to dwell in,” he said.
However, the suspect, Adegoke, denied ownership of the live cartridges, saying that he was only hired to transport the goods to Ibadan.
Dejected, but sober Adegoke said, he was not aware that the items were concealed in the bus, adding that what was bargained with him were yam tubers and flour. He pleaded for mercy.
It was gathered that the smugglers on sighting officers of the Nigeria Customs, jumped out of the bus and escaped through the bush path, leaving the driver.
The Customs boss, later handed over the smuggled items and the suspect to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and prosecution.
Receiving the items, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, who praised the Customs for the feat, promised that the matter would be investigated and the culprits brought to book.
He described the Customs Command as a goal-getter and highly patriotic.
