Customs break shops, seize 4,550 bags of rice, jerrycans of oil in Sango

The sleepy twin of Sango in Ogun state came under siege during the night from men of the Nigeria Customs Service.

An operation by the customs officials from the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, who were reportedly accompanied by soldiers attached to OP MESSA, saw the raiding of shops at Sango Market, in the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State and the impounding of about 4,550 bags of rice and 75 jerrycans of vegetable oil.

The raid sparked a protest among rice sellers who accused the custom officials of breaking their safes and taking money and other valuables during the operation that lasted for about three hours.

Recounting her ordeal, Kudirat Fasinu, a trader said her shop was also ransacked with 300 bags of rice and vegetable oil worth N1.5m which she claimed she bought on Saturday taken away.

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“I just finished prayer around 1am when I got a call that customs men were breaking shops and removing goods. They broke my shop and took away 75 jerrycans of 25 litres vegetable oil and 300 bags of rice. I got here around 1.30am”, the trader said.

Describing the operation by the custom officials as illegal the Babaloja of the market, Alhaji Shakirudeen Olasege, said the right thing that was supposed to be done was for the shops to be sealed and their owners invited for questioning.

“We are going to Abeokuta tomorrow (Thursday) to meet with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the state House of Assembly. Goods and cash worth about N700m were seized during the raid by customs. I learnt that the men entered the market around 12am. They came with 15 trailers and went with 13 trailer-load of rice. Each trailer contained 350 bags. Some of the officers wore masks.

“This is burglary. Two customs officials, identified as Jude and Alawo Ekun, led the illegal operation”, the Babaloja said.

However, the customs in a statement declared that 1,870 bags of rice and 43 jerrycans of vegetable oil smuggled into the country were seized, adding that its officials did not break any shop or steal any monies as claimed.

 

 

 

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