By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday holds security summit with other stakeholders to end incessant attacks on its personnel and other security operatives in Kebbi State.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Timi Bomadi vowed to end attacks on the personnel in the state.
He said the primary aim of the submit is to collaborate with other stakeholders soldiers, police, NSCDC, DSS and traditional rulers as well as the government officials and strategies on how best to end constant attacks on the border areas in Kebbi State.
He said "Security reports indicated that our officers, military, civil defence, FRSC, immigrations and the civilians have lost their lives to bandits and terrorists as a result of constant attacks by criminals on check-points at border areas in Kebbi State.
“We want peace to reign and our legal trades to improve that’s why we recently opened our borders in Kebbi, but these unscrupulous elements in the society always attacked our innocent personnel at their check-points and kill them."
He added that since this irking attitudes by the criminals continued the customs headquarters decided to hold the summit in the affected states in Kebbi, where security agencies such as police, NSCDC, DSS, soldiers, FRSC officers, immigration and traditional rulers as well as government officials converged and discuss ways to ending such attacks and other criminal activities in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Customs Comptroller in Kebbi, Mahmoud Iirahim Matawalle commended Governor Nasir Idris for approving to host the summit in Kebbi and for his support to security agents.
He thanked Governor Idris for the donation of two brand new vehicles to Customs Command in Kebbi in order to enhance surveillance in the border areas across the state.
He also commended the efforts of his men particularly those in the border areas for their bravery in handling security situation in the areas.
The Comptroller assured that at the end of the submit, Kebbi State will remain free from attacks of bandits not only at the check-points but, in all other troubled areas in the state
Speaking at the event, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by his Deputy,Senator Abubakar Umar Tafida described the summit as timely, considering the security challenges in the North-West region of the country.
He said: " the threats we face from banditry to trans-border crimes do not respect state lines. In this regard, I am delighted to note that the Nigeria Customs Service is forging strong ties with diplomatic missions and security agencies to improve border security and trade facilitation.
"It is worthy of note that the NCS continues to deepen its global footprint through structured collaboration frameworks with over twenty customs administrations worldwide, with focus areas spanning knowledge exchange, capacity development, and operational synergy, all geared towards improving trade facilitation and border management.
He said the state government remains a dedicated partner to the Nigeria Customs Service, particularly in the ongoing Tsamiya Dry Port Project in Bagudo Local Government. We see this as a game-changer for our economy and a strategic asset for regional security"., he said.
