By Sunday Etuka
Border communities in the North West have expressed confidence on the North West Zone of headquarters Anti Smuggling Team B.
Leaders of Ethnic nationalities of other tribes residing in the areas have expressed confidence on effectiveness of the Anti smuggling team on the North West borders. One of the leaders, Chief Emeka Agwu, said that despite the security challenges pervading the northern zone especially north-east, the Customs team have done very well to stem the tide of fear for non indigenes to relocate to their areas of origin for safety.
Chief Agwu added that it has been the tradition of the non indigenes of border community residents in the areas to relocate to safe haven in election times especially going by the experiences of 2011. He however said that, border community residents especially Ibos have said that the surveillance of the Customs Anti Smuggling team on borders have given them the confidence that the border communities will be safe during and after the elections.
He said that the Customs Comptroller-General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde has one very well by constituting the anti smuggling team. He added that the effectiveness of the headquarters anti smuggling team has raised hope of safety in them during and after elections. He purred encomium on the CG for the wisdom in instituting and equipping the anti smuggling team for the task.
Rumours have been peddled that as the 2015 general election approaches, Nigerians from other areas residing in border communities have continued to drift to their localities for fear of after election upheavals. Chief Agwu appealed to his kinsmen that border community is safe adding that the Customs CG has done well for constituting the headquarters Anti-smuggling team particularly the one in charge of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna.
He said that the patrol vehicles are seen all over the areas which have raised hope of safety during the election.
He said that the effectiveness in surveillance displayed by the team to curtail illegal immigrants particularly during outbreak of Ebola epidemic is an indication that the Customs are up the task. He also appealed to the government to sensitise the entire northern communities on the need for internal peace as government is committing huge resources to maintaining security.
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