Protests as Customs invades Ibadan market

Members of the public, including Traders Associations in Oyo State on Thursday took to the streets of Ibadan, to protest the midnight invasion of Bodija Market by men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The Customs officials were alleged to have seized hundreds of bags of rice and took away their money.

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The Public Relations Officer of FOU Zone A, Mr Theophilus Duniya, in his reaction described the operation as a successful one.

He added that the operation was carried out in order to reduce casualties during confrontation with smugglers.

Duniya maintained that the NCS was empowered by the law to seize or intercept smuggled items anywhere in the country including warehouses or stores.

“I have confirmed from the office. It was a successful one. It was a successful operation.

“You know that there is ban on importation of foreign rice. This was done to empower local farmers.

“It was done to avoid casualties during confrontation with smugglers. That will serve as a deterrent to others. Such operation is backed by the law.

“NCS is empowered by law to seize smuggled items anywhere whether it is warehouse or shop.”

One of the protesters, Jide Adelaja, told Daily Trust that the Customs officers stormed the market and took away cash worth millions of naira in the midnight invasion.

There was traffic snarl along Secretariat-Bodija-UI road as motorists and other roads users were stranded for hours.

It was learnt that officers of the Customs who carried out the operations were from the Federal Operations Unit, Lagos.

The controversial midnight operation, it was gathered, was done without the knowledge of the Oyo/Osun Customs Command.

Crowd of protesters had attempted to break into the headquarters of the Oyo/Osun Command but were prevented from entry as the officers locked the massive gate.

After the botched attempt, the angry protesters were said to have proceeded to the Oyo State government secretariat, Ibadan where they called on Governor Seyi Makinde to wade into the alleged illegal invasion and stealing of cash by FOU Customs officers.