The joint border security exercise of the of Nigerian security agencies has started yielding positive results as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reports the arrest of 33 illegal migrants and seizures which include 3,560 of 50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 59 bags of NPK fertilizer; 15 vehicles; 12 drums filled with PMS; 3 engine boats, among others.
The exercise, led by the NCS and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies was introduced with the aim of promoting a secured, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer, NCS, in a statement on Tuesday commended the by-in of the border community dwellers, as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which is coordinating the exercise, recorded large numbers of seizures and arrests from the 4 sectors comprising the North-West, North-Central, South-West, and South-South geopolitical zones.
“The resolve of Nigerian security agencies to better secure the country’s territorial integrity, particularly the land and maritime borders against trans-border security concerns has started yielding positive results from the ongoing joint border security exercise, codenamed “Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE,” he said.
“As at 26th August 2019, 33 illegal migrants have been arrested while seizures include: 3,560 50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 59 bags of NPK fertilizer; 15 vehicles; 12 drums filled with PMS; 3 engine boats; 65 drums of groundnut oil; 4 truck; 75 gallons of PMS; 29 motorcycles; 68 gallons of vegetable oil; 70 jerry cans of PMS; among other items”.
Attah further stressed that the overriding interest remains to prevent the country against transnational security concerns such as smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, irregular migration, terrorism, armed banditry, among a host of other concerns.
“This is consistent with the constitutional responsibility of any well-meaning government. We therefore continue to seek the support of all and sundry, to ensure that the desired objectives of Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE are achieved”
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
