Mustapha Muhammad Tukur

Smugglers are having a free ride along the Mile2/Seme Expressway, Lagos, transporting large quantities of imported rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, fish and other banned imports into the country.

It was gathered that as a result of the #EndSARS protest by Nigerian youths across the nation and the subsequent civil unrest, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Police, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and other security services have vacated the route.

It will be recalled that Hoodlums have since hijacked the initial EndSARS protest, thereby causing civil unrest by attacking Police stations and other private and government’s properties.

This crisis created room for free smuggling from Cotonou into the country violating government law on partial closure of the borders.

It was also gathered that there is no security checkpoint from Badagry, (a border town to Benin Republic) to the other parts of the state.

A source said that people came as far as from Lekki, Ikorodu, Epe and even outside Lagos to take advantage of the absence of the security personnel to move large consignments of banned goods.

Protesters had swamped on the Customs checkpoint at Agbara, looting smuggled items stored there before setting the offices ablaze.

The officers and men of the Service were said to have taken to their heels when they saw the protesters approaching.

An eyewitness said that the attack of the Customs checkpoint may not be unconnected with the seized items stored there.