Ebun Olowu
Market men and women at the popular Bodija Market, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday, April 1, 2021 trooped out in protest against men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), who allegedly carted away hundreds of bags of rice from the market.
It was gathered that Customs officers in the early hours of Thursday stormed a shopping complex at the Bodija Market and carted away tons of bags of rice between 12am to 3am during the raid.
Public Relations Officer of FOU Zone A, Theophilus Duniya, described the operation as a successful one, adding that the operation was carried out in order to reduce casualties during confrontation with smugglers.
Duniya maintained that the NCS was empowered by the law to seize or intercept smuggled items anywhere in the country including warehouses or stores.
“I got a report now that men of the Oyo and Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in the early hours of this morning invaded a complex opposite Arisekola Shopping Complex at Bodija Market and allegedly carted away tons of bags of rice between 12am to 3am.
“I have confirmed from the office. It was a successful one. It was a successful operation.
“You know that there is ban on importation of foreign rice. This was done to empower local farmers.
“It was done to avoid casualties during confrontation with smugglers. That will serve as a deterrent to others. Such operation is backed by the law.
“NCS is empowered by law to seize smuggled items anywhere whether it is warehouse or shop.”
The protest caused a traffic jam as the roads around the area were blocked by the protesters.
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