…makes another seizures of 1125 pieces of live cartridges, 6 pump action riffles hidden in cassava flakes along Oyo axis
ZAINAB JUNAID
The significant successes recorded by the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 2, Southwest Zone, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, under the watch of its Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller, Muhammed Salisu Shuaibu, reminds one of the saying-courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
MS Shuaibu is that courageous man, who came, saw and conquered the fear on the field of war. He did not became the Coordinator by a stroke of luck, he was a good fit for the job role.
DC Shuaibu adopted the successful practice of courageous performance immediately he assumed duty as the Coordinator of this great team. He ensured his strategies aligned with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, especially in area of Collaboration and consolidation.
From a three-day familiarization visit to all Area Controllers within his jurisdiction where he solicited robust and purposeful relationship to achieve effective Service Delivery in January/February 2024, DC Shuaibu intensified efforts to conquer cross-border crimes by collaborating with sister agencies, Nigeria Immigration Service especially.
The doggedness and sacrifice of the team in fighting cross-border crimes under his watch has been instrumental in achieving significant seizures worth a Duty Paid Value of over N36.7Billion and interception of 1,507 irregular immigrants.
Not only that, the Sector’s effort has boosted the Federal Government’s revenue through auction sales.
While speaking at a winding-up press briefing held at Customs Training College, Lagos, DC Shuaibu revealed that an aggregate of One Billion, One Hundred and forty million, one hundred and sixty two thousand, five hundred and Sixty two Naira (N1,140,162,562) was paid into federation account from the sales of seized petroleum products.He stated that the national security was simultaneously enhanced by seizing and frustrating the supply chains of illicit goods which had security implications and concerns.
According to him, another recent seizure made by the team was six pump -action riffles and a total of 1,125 pieces of live cartridges carefully hidden inside sacks containing cassava flakes.
“The recent seizures was on December 3, 2024, when a patrol team sighted a man running away from a stationed Toyota Camry Saloon car along the Okerete-Ododo bush path of Oyo state. The fleeing man’s action raised suspicion on the abandoned vehicle and it was intercepted.
DC Shuaibu and his team showcasing recent seizures made at the winding -Up briefing held at CTC, Ikeja Lagos on Friday.
“After conducting a search on the vehicle, it was found to contain six pump -action rifles with the following numbers: 602-H22YT-641, 602-H22YT-397, 602-H22YT-623, 22-MT-0238, P537916, and T051084. A total of 1,125 pieces of live cartridges were found to be carefully concealed inside sacks containing cassava flakes,” he said.
Speaking further, the Coordinator disclosed that seizures made from August 20, 2019 till date are-130,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg) equivalent to 218 truck loads; 7,200kg of pangolin scales; 5,575,020 litres of Premium motor spirit; 11,322 cartons of foreign frozen products; 4,124 bales of used clothes; 4,057 kegs of vegetable oil; 15 pump action riffles; 280 suspected cases of human trafficking; 480 units of motor vehicles; 1190 means of conveyance.
However, amidst the successes recorded, JBPT encountered some operational challenges like any other establishment and according to MS Shuaibu, the challenges were surmountable with the aid of collaboration with some critical stakeholders, developing innovative problem -solving skills and commitment to effective leadership and management.
While expressing appreciation and gratitude to Officers and Men of JBPT SECTOR 2, across the component security agencies, patriotic citizens and Stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to fighting cross-border crimes, DC Shuaibu said, “I am honored to lead a courageous and determined team that is committed to the safety and security of our nation. Your dedication, bravery, and perseverance have been instrumental to the successes recorded by the team.
“The tireless efforts you made towards securing our borders by suppressing smuggling, and the interception of illegal immigrants are not unnoticed. Thank you for demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and patriotism in the face of numerous challenges.
“To the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, We express our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support towards the success of the JBPT, Sector 2; your leadership styles and logistics supplied are instrumental to our success story at suppressing cross-border crimes. We are grateful for the opportunity to work under your supervision,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Officers and Men of the team and also sister agency(NIS) were given award in recognition of their exceptional contribution and dedication to excellence by the Coordinator at the winding-Up ceremony.
Among the awardees are- DC Abdullahi, Immigration Component Commander; AS CB Achinze- Comptroller in charge of Seme axis; JB Kashimu in charge of Ogun Operations; AS BO Ugu, officer in charge of Oyo axis; MM Abdullahi(immigration officer in charge of operations); CSC AA Moshood; SC UK Hassan; DSC A Haruna; DSC S Abdulkareem; ASC Kio; ASC FU Hassan, among others.
Prior to his new deployment to Idiroko Command, DC Shuaibu assumed duty as Coordinator of JBPT on 22nd of December 2023, a Sector that covers the Southwest geo-political Zone of Nigeria and specifically focused on the border corridors with the neighboring countries.
JBPT formerly code-named “Operation Swift Response” was inaugurated on 20 August 2019 to address security challenges along the nation’s international borders caused by the proliferation of smuggled small and light weapons, illicit drugs, prohibited goods, and other cross – border crimes.
