‘Why We Have Not Resumed At Ajilete’

The Nigeria Customs Service checkpoint at Ajilete is yet to resume operation at the border town, operatives of the Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have revealed to the media.

This was as a result of the diehard smugglers in the community who have insisted that men of the Customs service must not mount any checkpoint in the town since the crisis between Customs officers and members of the community, which led to the death of one of their own.

However, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Bamidele Akande has debunked the insinuation, maintaining that they are still in control of the border town but need more time for peace to be restored in the community.

“There was an incident that happened and we want to make room for peace-making. We want to make sure that we have lasting peace, not just one that will enable us to hurriedly assemble our men and go back to Ajilete, only for the community to rise up and begin to attack our men who of course will not allow it go without defending themselves,” Akande explained.

He lamented that the members of the host community, who according to him perceive smuggling as a legitimate business use charms to protect themselves against arrest by officers.

Akande, however maintained that his officers will not relent in curbing the nefarious activities of smugglers at the border town, noting that even with the charms, they are still arrested.

“The smugglers use charms, but from experience, I believe it is more of a psychological thing. Even with the charms we still get them arrested.”