- Arrests 1,507 irregular immigrants, contraband worth N36.7bn
By Steve Agbota
The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Team Sector 2, South West Zone Lagos, said that it intercepted psix pump action rifles and a total of 1,125 pieces of live cartridge were found to be carefully concealed inside sacks containing cassava flakes (Garri).
The operatives of JBPT also arrested 1,507 irregular immigrants and other contraband worth 36.7 billion between 2019 till date.
Addressing journalist at a press conference on Friday, the Coordinator of the JBPT, Mohammed Shuaibu, said that the doggedness and sacrifice of JBPT Sector 2 in fighting cross-border crimes was instrumental in achieving some significant success.
Giving the details of the guns, he said on December 4, 2024, a patrol team sighted a man running away from a stationed Toyota Camry Saloon car along the Okerete-Odo bush path of Oyo State.
“The fleeing man’s action raised suspicion on the abandoned vehicle and it was intercepted. 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 added.
He said prominent among other seizures recorded from 20 August 2019 till date are; 130,954 bags of foreign bags of rice (50kg) equivalent to 218 truck loads, 7,200 kg of pangolin scales5,575,020 litres of Premium motor spirit.
He said others are 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 and 1,190 means of conveyance.
According to him, the Sector’s efforts also boosted the Federal Government’s revenue through auction sales, adding that an aggregate of N1.140 billion was paid into the federation account from the sales of seized petroleum products, at the same time the national security was enhanced by seizing and frustrating the supply chains of illicit goods which had security implications and concerns.
“However, the JBPT Sector 2 had encountered some operational challenges like any other establishment. However, these challenges were surmounted with the aid of collaboration with some critical stakeholders, developing innovative problem-solving skills and commitment to effective leadership and management.
“At this juncture, I express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the officers and men of JBPT Sector 2, across the component security agencies, patriotic citizens and stakeholders for your unwavering commitment to fighting cross-border crimes. 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 suppressingsmuggling, and the interception of illegal immigrants are not unnoticed,” he explained.