Ogun 1 Customs Command Intensifies Onslaught Against Smugglers

Ogun 1 Customs Command Intensifies Onslaught Against Smugglers.

By Joe Njoku,

Global Freight News. The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified enforcement actions against the dare devil smugglers in the state.

The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni has declared that smugglers Operating in the state are now feeling the heat as a result of our professional competence in the fight against smuggling.

DC Afeni said this during a courtesy visit by the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria, MAJAN Executive Members in his office at idiroko Ogun state.

Comrade Jerry Aguigbo MAJAN President noted that the Association’s newspaper, the Powerful Pen has consistently supported the command through accurate reporting and information dissertation of the Command’s activities.

According to him, “We have always maintained a cordial relationship with your predecessors, and we want it continue. We know there are challenges, and we to part of your success story,” he said

Afeni said, “the Ogun 1 Customs Command is an enforcement zone, and our primary duty is to deter smugglers or would be smugglers from perpetrating their illicit acts. In an environment of operational enforcement, clashes and frictions are not unexpected, but the focus must always be on the result of suppressing smuggling to the barest minimum,” he said.

He disclosed that operational pressure mounted by customs officers had recently triggered violent resistance, including attacks on officers on duty. According to him, an Officer was attacked earlier this same day, a development he described as a sign that smugglers were under pressure.

” You don’t have attack if officers are not doing what they are supposed to do. The pressure is getting at them, to that is why we are not resting on our oars,” he said.

He called on the media to support the command to educate the general public on the dangers of smuggling, noting that smuggling undermine the nation’s economy by turning the country into a dumping ground for prohibited goods.

“Smuggling does not do anybody any good. Nigeria cannot be turned into a dumping ground. Government has banned certain items so that domestic industries can thrive. If we continue to import everything, we our economy docile. The focus is now on production and exportation,’ he enthused.

Afeni emphasised that the command’s operations are guided by established rules of engagement, adding that while some level of force may be inevitable in enforcing the law, customs officers act strictly within legal boundaries.

While narrating a recent incident in the command, Afeni said that officers arrested some smugglers carrying many bags of rice on motorcycles in the bus path and seized 46 bags of rice. However, about 40 kilometers away from the scene, they were ambushed by suspected land grabbers who allegedly specialized in intercepting seized goods from Customs officers.

Our officers resisted them, and they opened fire on my officers. You saw the pellets on the operational vehicles. In such a situation, where lives are in danger, the law allows officers to defend themselves, he said.

He revealed that the command has a adopted a “Carrot and Stick” approach by engaging with opinion leaders and traditional rulers to caution their subjects against attacking Customs Officers.

“Nobody should attack our officers in the course of their duty. We are engaging traditional rulers to help educate their people,’ he added.

He acknowledged the socio-economic challenges in the area, noting that many residents see smuggling as a means of livelihood rather than crime.

“People see smuggling as a business. They don’t see it as a crime. But despite the situation, the job must be done. We have the full backing of the Customs Management,” he enthused.

He further disclosed that the Idiroko border remains open for legitimate trade, describing it as the officially opened land border in the area, but lamented the presence of over 1,000 unapproved routes which smugglers exploits.

“We can’t be everywhere, so we rely heavily on intelligence. That is why most of our seizures are high quality seizures,” ha added.

He said that the command held a joint security meeting in January, 2026 with sister agencies, including counterparts from Cotonou to strengthen intelligence sharing and investigate the recent attack on our officers. So investigation are on going and we will brief you on the outcome.

Also speaking, the command’s Legal Officer, SC Ogar, said that the Ogun 1 Area Command had ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at fostering cordial relationship with host communities, which includes, intervention in schools are other community programmes.

“The people fighting us are those engaged in economic sabotage. The average resident in Ipokia, Aiyetoro and its surrounding areas are happy with us, and we are committed to doing more to them through CSR,” he added.

Earlier in his remark, the President of the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria MAJAN, Comrade Jerry Aguigbo congratulated the Acting Customs Area Controller on his posting and assured him of the Association’s commitment to support the command with accurate reporting, as well as strengthens the existing relationship between MAJAN and the Ogun 1 Area Command.

According to him, ” We have always maintained a cordial relationship with your predecessors, and we want it to continue. We know there are challenges, and we want to be part of your success story,” he concluded

DC Afeni said that the command will always maintain a cordial relationship