Oyo: Customs intercept ammunition concealed in cassava flour bags

Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted live cartridges concealed in bags of cassava flour, better known as garri.

The items , loaded in three Mazda saloon cars, as gathered, were seized by officers on patrol along the Igbora axis of Oyo State.

The drivers, on sighting the officers were said to have fled into the bush, leaving their vehicles behind.

Some of the cartridges impounded by Customs operatives in Oyo State.

Confirming the incident on Monday, Public Relations Officer of the FOU, Theophilus Duniya, revealed that the items impounded included 751 pieces of AAA, 70mm live Lion Cartridges, sacks of cassava flour, and sacks of parboiled rice.

Duniya informed that the vehicles, including their content, have been deposited at the unit’s headquarters for further investigation.

Reacting to the seizure, the Acting Customs Comptroller in charge of the FOU, Hussein Ejibunu, called on all patriotic citizens to provide useful and timely information that would help in combating smuggling.

The customs chief, who described smuggling as the mother of all crimes, also sought the collaboration of the people to tackle the menace to the barest minimum.

Ejibunu said, “It is an act of sabotage that should not be allowed to fester for a long time, most especially with the security challenges in the country.

“Information is key and germane towards the fight against this cankerworm called smuggling.”