Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has advised personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to act more professionally, especially while pursuing smugglers or other criminals.
Makinde gave the advice on Monday evening when he received the acting Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, in Ibadan.
Makinde said the call was to avoid unplanned action against civilians when pursuing such smugglers to public places, such as market places.
The governor whose deputy, Alhaji Adebayo Lawal received the Customs’ acting Comptroller-General on his behalf, recalled the Igboora incident.
This was where lives and property were lost when smugglers were chased into the market.
Makinde noted that officers of the NCS should not be chasing criminals to market places where such action could lead to confrontations.
He equally charged the Customs personnel to build on civil community relationship to further enhance the security of lives and property.
“Oyo state shares boundary with other countries such as Benin Republic and as such, there is need for the Nigeria Customs to be up and doing in terms of security across the borders,” the governor said.
He urged the agency to focus more on those importing arms and ammunition than chasing rice smugglers.
”Now that there is no any state without security challenges such as banditry and illegal mining, you have to be focused more on salvaging.
“You have to ensure to safeguard mineral resources in Oyo state and other states in the country, by apprehending illegal miners.
“About 5,000 hectares of land are being mined in Oke-Ogun axis of the state. So, wherever there’s illegal mining, you must have some conflict which comes along with arms and ammunition.
” Because those who mine don’t give a damn to rarely attack. So, we must develop a robust arrangement between the Customs, the aim migration and other security agencies so that we will be able to combat illegal mining,” Makinde added.
The governor further commended the leadership of NCS in the state for cooperating and working with other security agencies in the state to curb crime.
He stated that his government would foster and engage in more Customs-Citizen relationships to strengthen security.
Makinde assured Adeniyi that his administration would be more proactive to support the agency.
“This will be in terms of your assigned constitutional duties to collect revenue which will go into the Federation Account for disbursement to states.”
In his remarks, Adeniyi commended the state government for its support and cooperation in preventing smuggling in the state.
He assured the state government that the agency would continue to carry out its statutory duties to enhance the economic growth of the state and the nation in general.
