It has started again in another dimension as their stock in trade. The invisible organisation operating at the border command of Seme Krake always finding fault on any sitting Customs Area Controller at Seme border who may not want to dance to their makeba tone are definitely up to their game. Since the days of retired ACG Tahir Musa to the just retired Comptroller Kolade Kayode it has remain the same pattern. The truth bout all these rumours are stemmed on the fact that if any Customs Area Controller assumes duty, they will find a way to pay him a courtesy call. At such visits, they do not mince words to inform the Customs Area Controller on how they would want him to operate among which is allowing them to practice their "crossing" business. They will put it to him that this business has existed from time immemorial as they also inherited it from their fathers. When a diligent customs boss stands to keep the mandate reposed on him, it becomes a war. It is therefore not a surprise to critical stakeholders of this command when the news of widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner, who then allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry, started creating a concern to the authority and the stakeholders at the command. In a swift reaction by the Command's Public Relations Officer, CSC Isah Sulaiman on behalf of the Customs Area Controller of the command, Dr. Ben Aramalugo issued a press release
debunking the news as very imaginary just like children tales by the moonlight. In his release CSC Sulaiman said "the Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading and does not reflect the reality of the matter. The Command has always adhered to NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disposing of seized goods, which is guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines. "It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements wearing the garment of journalism (a credible profession) to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they are supposed to uphold. "Consequently, we urge the general public to disregard this unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation. "The Seme Area Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, PhD. remains committed to its mandate of revenue generation, suppressing smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade professionally and responsibly in accordance with extant government fiscal policies and laws. There is no doubt about the outstanding record of the Area Controller, Dr. Oramalugo at his last command, Oyo/Osun which remains a template and cannot be rubbished by his redeployment to Seme border which has remained a gateway and diplomatic route to the Abidjan/Lagos corridor. It is the right time the operators on this corridor more especially the freight forwarders should fight this misinformation menace once and for all to allow for smooth operations of the meagre trade facilitation from the area.
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