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Customs Officers Offer Bandits Seven Bags Of Seized Rice To Escape Attack In Katsina
They became a little bit friendly with us. We seized 37 bags of rice, but they told us that if we were to leave safely, they would take seven bags
Katsina State– Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Katsina State were forced to offer seven bags of seized rice to armed bandits in exchange for their safety, a senior officer of the service has revealed.
The startling disclosure highlights the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly in the North-West region where banditry has persisted despite military operations.
Controller Aliyu Mohammed, the National Coordinator of Border Drill, Sector Four, Northwest, made the revelation while addressing journalists in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Narrating the ordeal, Mohammed said the encounter occurred when customs operatives ran into armed bandits during an operation in the Dutsin-Ma area.
“We have a lot of challenges. The people we are working for are not supporting us. We are not working for only Customs; we are working for the nation,” he said.
“I sacrificed my life to go to Dutsin-Ma and enter the bush where the bandits are. The last time we encountered them, they became a little bit friendly with us. We seized 37 bags of rice, but they told us that if we were to leave safely, they would take seven bags. We gave them the seven bags to save our lives.”
He explained that operatives often face life-threatening situations while carrying out their duties without adequate support, adding that the lack of cooperation from relevant authorities worsens their challenges.
