Smugglers Hold Special Prayers Against Customs Service

Rice smugglers in Katsina State
during last Friday, held special
prayers to seek divine intervention against
the Customs Service for stopping them from
bringing in the product.
Comptroller of Federal Operation Unit of Customs
in zone B, Mr. Amade Abdul, who disclosed this
while addressing newsmen in Kaduna yesterday,
said report reaching them indicates that the
smugglers during the prayers asked God to
intervene on the ban of the commodity.
"Reports had it that they organised prayers during
Juma'at prayers that God should touch the minds of
Customs officials who are trying to stop food from
entering their town.
"No, we are not their enemies and we are not
trying to stop food from entering their area. We are
only implementing government policies on the
illegal smuggling of rice. This is in the interest of all
of us because it will allow farmers in our country to
do well," he said.
He urged clerics and traditional rulers in the areas
to educate their people with their sermons and
preaching and not to mislead them.
"The prayers showed they are ignorant of
government policies, especially as its concerns rice
importation. There is a laid down procedure for
anyone willing to import rice into the country. If
you follow the procedures, nobody will challenge
you," he added.
He lamented that rice smugglers have now
resorted to the use of motorcycles to ferry their
commodity into the country through border towns
in Katsina.
"Motorcycles operators are now trooping from
Yobe, Borno and all other parts of the North to
Katsina State to join in the business of rice
smuggling. This is not good because we don't know
the kind of persons that are riding the bikes, aside
from the fact that their activities is against the ban
of rice", he said.