Men of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operations Base (FOB) Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State have arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) eight suspected smugglers in addition to 642 bags of rice.
The commander, FOB, Capt. Yusuf Idris who performed the handing over of the suspects and the goods said the Navy would not relent in its fight against criminality on the waterways.
He said in line with existing cooperation between the Navy and the Customs, “We hereby hand over another group of suspects who smuggled items into the country through Cameroon for prosecution.”
Receiving the suspects, the Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Oron outstation, Auwal Ali, commended the Navy for the collaboration which he said was yielding fruits with the continuous arrest of suspected smugglers in the area.
Ali, who represented the comptroller Eastern custom commander, Aliya Masay said “we wish to thank the Navy for a job well done adding that Navy is giving us what we expect”.
One of the suspects, Bruno Owobuakuno, aged 45 years explained that they surrendered immediately the Naval officers started shooting.
”The Navy started shooting as soon as we were sighted close to the tank farm and we had to surrender to them,” he said.
Comments