Days after taking over 2000, bags of seized imported rice to IDP Camp in the north east, men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Saturday invaded Oja Oba market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, carting away truckloads of rice.
This is coming days after customs committee set was ordered to investigate raiding of Bodija market in the night by customs officers.
It was gathered that the customs officers invaded the market in the early hours of Saturday.
Public Relations Officer of Oyo/Osun Customs Command, Kayode Wey, when contacted, confirmed the development to the daily posy
He, however, said that the operation was carried out by Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone A.
“It is the FOU. They are not officers from Oyo/Osun command It is the FOU that went to the Bodija market the last time.
“It is the same FOU, the command did not know anything about it. We do not have any information on it. I am hearing it the same way you are hearing it.”
Public Relations Officer of NCS, FOU Zone A, Mr. Theophilus Duniya also confirmed the invasion.
Duniya in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Saturday noted that the customs is empowered to carry out such operation.
“Yes. Until we examine them. You are aware that the federal government imposed a ban on importation of foreign rice to encourage local production in the country.
“As it stands, foreign rice is a contraband and the law empowers us, the act that established the service empowers officers to carry out such operations.
“To break into any shop or warehouse upon reasonable suspicion that prohibited goods are stored, we evacuate them. That is what happened.
“This is Federal Operation Unit Zone A in charge of South West zone.”.
