Suspected smugglers of donkeys skin resisted the anti smuggling patrol for three days along Bunza-Kamba-Maje axix of the state.
The Customs Area Controller, of the Nigeria Customs Service in Kebbi State, Dr. Ben Oramalugo stated disclosed this while briefing Journalists in Birnin Kebbi.
Oramalugo said a suspect, one Volvo truck and 414 sacks of dried donkeys meat and skins were recovered from the three days operations.
He explained that, the suspected smugglers unleashed mayhem on his officers for three days to prevent impounding the smuggled items, created chaos, prompted the Customs to ask to reinforcement from Army and Nigeria police.
Oramalugo said despite tension created between the villages and routes, no life was lost except their patrol vehicles which were damaged by the smugglers.
His words: “On Sunday 14th May,2023, following an intelligence report on prohibited items about to be smuggled out of the country the through Bunza down to Make Axix, we detailed our officers to increased surveillance along the said routes.
“And through stop-and search ,the officers were able to intercept a truck load of donkey skins and meat along Bunza-Kamba Axix. While conveying it to the command for further investigation,the officers were attacked by some unscrupulous elements from the village of Bunza,Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
“These bad elements broke the windscreen of two patrol vehicles belonging to the Command, forcing our officers to retreat. We later called for reinforcement from the army. Before the arrival of the army, the mob managed to whisk away the truck to the surrounding bushes.
“The Command officers and the army waited patiently until late hours before they continued with their operation. The truck and its content were eventually found at about 0100Hrs at different locations and had since been brought to the Command’s Headquarters for further investigation”.
He explained that the action of the smugglers contravened Section 63 (b) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN, 2004 which gives Nigeria Customs Service the power to confiscate goods about to be exported in contravention to any law such as illegal trade of endangered species such as donkeys, pangolin, among others.
Oramalugo disclosed that, other items seized includes: 1 Volvo truck (6 tyres) fully loaded with 212 big sized sacks and 202 small sized sacks of donkey meat/skins, 4 used vehicles comprising 2 toyota camry 2013 and 2 used Honda Jazz 2005, 55 bales of secondhand clothes.
“4,925 liters of PMS, 13 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 5 kegs of vegetable oil, one blue volvo truck (6 tyres) and 1 toyota corolla ash as means of conveyance, among others.
He said: “the Duty Paid Value of the seized items is ₦71,287,056. All these successes have been achieved through constant vigilance and intelligence gathering by the officers and men of the Command.'”.
While speaking on the Revenue generation, he disclosed that, in the month of April, they were able to generate absumnof ₦127,364,100 stressed that, their target for the whole year are N1.50 billion.
While appreciating efforts of all stakeholders, Oramalugo said that “the result on ground was of the efforts we put in place through routine stakeholders engagements and applying advice received from community leaders and indigenous retired and serving security personnel DCGs with whom we are in contact and who help us with useful advice as we pay homage to them.
“To this end, we are extending our appreciations to patriotic Nigerians, eminent personalities, host communities and other stake holders for their relentless effort towards providing useful information and advice.”