How Bandits Collected Seized Bags Of Rice As Ransom For Kidnapped Top Customs Officer

Bandits operating in the North-West region of the country once demanded seized bags of rice before releasing a top commander of the Nigerian Customs Service whom they abducted.

The incident occurred in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina state as narrated by the coordinator of the sector 4 command, joint border patrol team of the Nigeria customs service (NCS) in the north-west, Aliyu Mohammed.

The officer while narrating some of the operational challenges faces by the customs operatives in the discharge of their duties, lamented that apart from encounters with criminals, members of the public are also quick to attack men and officers of the service whenever they have the opportunity.

Narrating one of his encounters with bandits in a bush in Katsina, Mohammed on Tuesday said armed bandits once demanded seven out of the 37 bags of rice they seized at the time, before some kidnapped officers could be released alive.

“The challenge we have is that the people we are working for are not supporting us. If we have any problem, just accidental discharge in a village, the whole people will bounce on customs. If you make seizure, instead of the villagers to assist you, they may end up attacking you,” Mohammed said.

“I sacrificed my life to enter the bush where the bandits are — the last time we had contact with them — to the extent that they were a little bit friendly with us.

“We seized 37 bags of rice and they said if we are to go, we have to give them seven bags to save our lives.

“So, you see the risks we take, but people, especially those living along the border communities, engage in attacking our officers,” he narrated on Tuesday as reported by The Cable.

In other news, an area divisional police headquarters located at Ishinweke town in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State has been set on fire by angry youths.

It was gathered that the police station was set on fire following the killing of a youth by a police officer.

According to further reports on the incident, two other police officers got injured in the attack.

The development was confirmed by the spokesperson of the command, Orlando Ikeokwu.

Ikeokwu while speaking on the incident said the policemen who went for an arrest in the area were assaulted by the youths.

He further stated that the two policemen were injured, adding that the youths freed a suspect.

The PPRO said a stray bullet hit one of the youths and he later died in hospital.

Ikeokwu said more policemen had been deployed to the station, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Narisu Muhammed, had ordered an investigation into the arson and manslaughter incident.