2 Customs officers declared wanted over seized rifles

isaac dachen

February 1, 2017 12:51 PM

Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been declared wanted over their roles in clearing a container loaded with guns at the Apapa Port.

The two officers who have been declared wanted

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has declared two of its officers wanted for

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In a statement released by the service, the officers, Abdullahi I, with service number 44483 ASC, and Odiba Haruna Inah, with service number 133386, reportedly fled after the weapons were uncovered inside a container loaded with steel doors by the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja.

The missing officers were said to be the ones who connived with the smugglers to clear the container at the port and immediately the guns were uncovered, they went into hiding.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), said the agency arrested three suspects, Oscar Okafor (importer), Mahmud Hassan (clearing agent) and Sadique Mustapha (escort), in connection with the arms smuggling.

Explaining further, Col. Ali said that other customs officers were arrested, adding that investigations were ongoing.

The spokesperson for the FOU, Jerry Attah, also said that the arrested suspects fingered Abdullahi and Inah in the cover up and they have been in hiding since the discovery.

“Immediately the weapons were uncovered, they (Customs officers) took to their heels and that is why we are declaring them wanted. They were the ones that examined and checked the container at the Apapa port.

The other suspects, including three other officers, are still in our custody pending the conclusion of investigations. There will be no half measures. We will get to the root of the case.”

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A document signed by the DCG Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Dan Ugo, declaring the two men wanted, displayed their pictures and force numbers with the words:

“The above customs officers are wanted in connection with the clearance of a one-by-40-foot container no PONU/825914/3 found to contain 661 pump-action rifles.

Whenever/wherever seen, they should be arrested and taken to the nearest customs formation.”

isaac dachen