The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, says security agencies in Nigeria in August 2024, made significant strides in safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerians.
During a joint press briefing held at the Nigeria Customs Headquarters in Abuja, Maiwada presented an overview of the efforts made by various agencies, including counter-terrorism, anti-smuggling operations, law enforcement, and financial crime prevention.
He noted that the Defence Headquarters had neutralised no fewer than 1,166 suspected terrorists, arrested 1,096 suspected criminals, and rescued 721 hostages during the month under review.
In addition, over 391 weapons were recovered, and several terrorist leaders were eliminated.
“The strategy of dismantling these terror groups by targeting their leadership, commanders, and collaborators is significantly diminishing their capacity to carry out major offensives. Additionally, the military recovered 391 weapons, over 15,000 rounds of ammunition, and disrupted oil theft activities worth over N5 billion,” he highlighted further.
In the area of maritime security, he said that the Nigerian Navy dismantled 15 illegal refinery sites, while law enforcement agencies arrested 873 suspects linked to various criminal activities.
Maiwada stated “Notably, a massive refinery site with a capacity of 2 million litres per day was dismantled along the Ogoloma-Bakana waterways in Rivers State. These efforts have contributed to Nigeria’s crude oil production reaching 1.658 million barrels per day, reinforcing the Navy’s role in safeguarding the nation’s economic interests.”
He also used the medium to commend the Nigeria Police Force for successfully foiling plots aimed at destabilising the government and apprehending multiple armed robbers, adding that “The Nigeria Police Force had, during the nationwide ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ protest, arrested a total of 873 individuals across several states in connection with various criminal activities such as armed robbery, arson, and vandalism.”
Highlighting the achievements of the Nigerian Customs Service, Maiwada disclosed that the agency generated revenue of N475.6 billion and seized contraband worth N975 million, adding that “the Nigerian Correctional Service made progress in reducing prison overcrowding by releasing 257 inmates.”
According to him, other agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, also recorded significant advances in anti-corruption, drug enforcement, and human trafficking cases, with numerous arrests and recoveries.
