The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) alerted over the alleged reckless and unchecked inflow of arms and ammunition into the country through land borders.
Damilola Simeon Kehinde
Chairman, NANS, Joint Campus Committee, JCC/Ogun Axis and Ogunrombi Gbemileke,
National President, National Association of Ogun State Students, (NAOSS), in a joint statement on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to beef security around the borders across the country.
NANS expressed concerns over the inability of the Nigeria Customs Services, Ogun Area 1 Command, to check the illicit trade, which it noted, has continued to jeopardize the security and safety of lives the Nigerians.
According to the statement: “We are outraged and appalled by the blatant failure of the Nigeria Customs Services, Ogun Area 1 Command, to curb this illicit trade, jeopardizing the security and safety of the Nigerian people.
“Several months ago, we sounded the alarm about the unhindered smuggling of arms, but it was shamefully dismissed and branded as politically motivated by the customs authorities.
“Now, the truth is laid bare, as a truck loaded with dangerous firearms was recently apprehended by the Nigerian Army along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State, mere kilometers away from the porous land border.
“We are not oblivious to the fact that the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area Command, has shown a shocking disregard for the security of our nation.”
NANS said: “Rather than diligently prevent life-threatening commodities from entering the country, they prefer to raid shops and seize bags of rice, while allowing deadly arms to freely find their ways into the wrong hands.
“This grossly unprofessional and irresponsible behavior has caught the attention of the Ogun State House of Assembly, leading to rightful chastisement by the Speaker.
“As the voice of Nigerian students in Ogun State and beyond, we unequivocally state that we will not tolerate this blatant disregard for the safety and wellbeing of our fellow citizens. The lives and future of the Nigerian people are at stake, and we will not be silent observers while this menace engulfs our nation.
“Therefore, we issue an immediate and unambiguous demand to the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area Command: to stop the inflow of arms and ammunition into Nigeria through land borders or face dire consequences.
“We give the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, a strict and non-negotiable ultimatum of seven working days to take decisive action and put an end to this dangerous trend.
“The Comptroller-General, must as a matter of urgency within this time frame, embark on the immediate and compulsory reshuffling, redeployment and auditing of officers within the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area 1 Command.
“We demand the probing, and flushing out of erring officers and the appointment of credible, hardworking and committed individuals who will prioritize the safety and security of our beloved nation over any other consideration.
“Failure to comply with our demands within the stipulated time frame will leave us with no choice but to take drastic measures.
“We will not hesitate to mobilize Nigerian students and concerned citizens to embark on peaceful but forceful protests at the Customs Area 1 Office and other relevant locations. Our protests will disrupt their operations and bring national attention to their incompetence and negligence.”
“In addition, we will explore all legal means to seek justice and accountability. We will petition national and international human rights organizations, exposing the Customs authorities’ gross misconduct and their role in endangering the lives of millions of Nigerians.
“Let this serve as a final warning to the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area 1 Command: The Nigerian student community and the patriotic citizens of this great nation stand united against your failure to safeguard our borders and prevent the illegal inflow of arms. We demand action, and we demand it now,” the statement added.
