Nigerian Army has warned smugglers to abandon their illegal trade or face the law, as the renewed collaboration between the security forces will ensure that they were caught and prosecuted.
Brigade Commander of the 9th Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General, Bulama Biu, who disclosed this in Lagos at the completion of a four-week training for 64 Customs officers, said that the collaboration among security agencies in the country will make it difficult for smugglers to operate.
Biu explained that the collaboration between the Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Airforce and the police will lead to better coordination of operations against smugglers from the land, sea and air when called upon by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.
The army chief charged the trainees to put the new skills acquired into use to ensure that the Customs fulfils its responsibilities to the goverment and people.
In the same vein, Comptroller General of NCS, Hameed Ali, who was represented at the event by the Coordinator in charge of zone “A”, Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, Charles Edike, said that the training of the officers was one of several efforts being undertaken by the army as a result of the collaboration that existed between both bodies.
The Customs boss said that the officers were trained in anti-smuggling patrol, weapon handling, armoury management and both physical and mental fitness.
He noted that smugglers can no longer intimidate the trained officers anymore.
He charged them to use their newly acquired skills for national interest by ensuring that all duties are paid correctly and that nothing on the prohibition list is allowed into the country.
