- Hands over seized truck to NSCDC
From John Adams, Minna
The Nigerian Customs Service, Niger/Kogi Area Command has intercepted a Mitsubishi Canter Truck with Registration number Sul-51-ZY loaded with a large quantity of railway locomotive parts along the Minna-Bida highway in Niger state.
The Comptroller in charge of Niger/Kogi Area command, Busayo Kadejo disclosed this at the Command Headquarters in Minna, the Niger State capital on Wednesday, when he handed over the seized materials to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Niger State Command, saying the items were suspected to be the property of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
The Comptroller disclosed that the interception of the Truck laden with railway locomotive parts was carried out by the customs surveillance patrol team along the Minna-Bida highway.
Narrating the counter of the patrol team with the suspected vandals, the Comptroller said the occupants of the truck, sensing imminent danger when flagged down, and fearing possible arrest, “the driver and other occupants took to their heels and abandoned the vehicles”.
He pointed out that it was discovered that the vehicle was conveying vandalised railway locomotive parts, property of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, adding that this is not only criminal but an act of economic sabotage.
According to him, having sought and obtained necessary approval from the Comptroller General of Customs, the Command decided to hand over the intercepted vehicle with railway locomotive parts to the sister security agency, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp for further action.
The Comptroller maintained that handing over the seized vehicles to the NSCDC was done in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against criminal and criminalities in our society.
He commended the Officers and Men of the surveillance patrol team who intercepted the truck, especially considering the damage and loss that the Nigerian Railway Corporation would have incurred by the action of these callous vandals and economic saboteurs.