Customs Generates N2.4bn in Sokoto, Probes Alleged Attack on Katsina Governor’s Aide

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto  and Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated the sum of N2, 418, 477,044) from January to June 2023.

This is just as NCS has commenced an investigation into the alleged attack on Mr. Jabiru Tsauri, the Chief of Staff to the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda.

In a statement issued by the Sokoto Command Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Tsafe, the NCS said: “A comparative analysis with the preceding year (2022) indicates that we have surpassed revenue collected at the same period last year (2022) by 25.6 percent when compared to one billion, nine hundred and twenty-six million, two hundred and sixty-five thousand, seven hundred and forty-nine naira (N1,926,265,749) .

He further stated that the Command Area  Comptroller, Musa Omale, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustain and improve upon revenue generation in the third quarter of 2023. Tsafe noted that the Comptroller sought the continuous cooperation of all stakeholders, and assured them of the Command’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business and trade facilitation.

The Area Comptroller warned smugglers and would-be smugglers to keep away from the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

He added that the leadership of NCS under the acting Comptroller-General Adewale Bashir Adeniyi remains unrelenting in the bid to continue to foil, frustrate and deplete the activities of economic saboteurs.

In line with this, Omale said the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, through its renewed strategies, has continued to achieve increased blockage of revenue leakages and prevent the smuggling of prohibited imported items.

Meanwhile,  the NCS  has commenced an investigation into the alleged attack on Mr. Jabiru Tsauri, the Chief of Staff to the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda.

 Tsauri, according to a statement issued recently by Radda’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, narrowly escaped a harrowing assault from suspected Customs personnel.

He added that the NCS personnel targeted the victim at a location known as Gorar Yammama while on his way to Abuja on July 13, 2023.

But in a statement issued yesterday, Katsina NCS spokesman, Mr. Tahir Balarabe, described the incident as unfortunate, sympathising with the victim and the Katsina State Government.

He said investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident, adding that anyone found wanting would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, “As a reputable organisation, NCS frowns at any form of unprofessionalism on the part of its officers. Our officers are well-trained in handling firearms and are expected to act by the rules of engagement spelt out in our book of instructions.

“We assure all well-meaning Nigerians, especially the people and the government of Katsina State, to go about their legitimate activities as the service will only sustain its onslaught against economic saboteurs and their accomplices while collecting maximum revenue that will be utilised for national development.”