Security agents involved in the
Exercise Swift Response along Nigerian borders with Benin Republic were said to
be making enough money by the day as the suspension of supply of petroleum
products to Nigerians living in border communities takes its toll on residents
of the area.
But authorities said no amount of
allegations would stop them from doing their job.
Recall that the
Exercise Swift Response, being coordinated by the Office of the National
Security Adviser, was launched in August when Nigerian borders were closed,
reportedly, against smuggling and for national security.
The National Public Relations
Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and spokesman for the Exercise, Deputy
Comptroller Joseph Attah, had said the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria
Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN),
intelligence agencies and the Nigeria Police Force pulled their human and
material resources together for the exercise.
Since the directive, those living
in border communities have been lamenting the untoward hardship facing them
daily as they travel far distances to get fuel for commercial use.
Aside from travelling distances
to access fuel, the people also decried being harassed by security agents, who
they accused of collecting bribes from them for carrying few litres of
petroleum products.
At Idiroko border axis in Ipokia
Local Government area of Ogun State, over 200 filling stations were said to
have been locked up, with thousands of employees now roaming the street.
But security agents deployed to
the area were alleged to have seized the opportunity provided by the suspension
of petroleum products supply to border areas to enrich themselves.
“As we suffer to get fuel, they
make more money. Many of them have turned millionaires in the few days that
government banned the supply of petrol to border communities,” a resident
confided in DAILY POST anonymously.
Our correspondent, who visited
Ajilete customs checkpoint down to Idiroko, observed that the area is now a
beehive of activities.
Commuters spend almost an hour on
queue as a result of gridlock caused by security agents trying to ‘make
transactions’ with fuel buyers and drivers coming from Sango or Owode.
Jerry cans of different sizes,
ranging between two litres and 20 litres were piling up by the roadside after
being seized from residents of border communities, who our correspondent
gathered, travelled over 40km to get fuel.
From enquiries, it was gathered
that the seized jerry cans of fuel belonged to people who refused to ‘rub
palms’ with the security agents.
Our correspondent observed that
drivers and Okada riders were giving between N100 and N500 to ‘officers’ so as
to prevent being disturbed.
It was also observed that some
drivers were given ‘daily identification numbers’ by the security agents
immediately they collect money from them. This, the drivers said was to prevent
paying ‘double’ as they would need to tell security agents the number attached
to them on their next trip of the day.
“If you don’t have a number, they
know you have not paid for that day,” a commercial driver informed.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Mr
James Adebola, who is a commercial driver in the area said security agents were
the ones reaping the gains of their labour as drivers.
Adegbola informed that, “there
are more than 50 checkpoints from Idiroko to Sango, manned by customs, police,
army, immigration, and even road safety;” adding that “all of them collect at
least, N100 from commercial drivers.”
Also, Rasaq Oriyomi, a resident
of Ajegunle, recounted how he was stopped and delayed for hours by security
agents for having his car tank filled up with fuel.
“I was coming from Abeokuta, so I
stopped at Owode to fill my tank. But when I got to Ajilete, one soldier told
me to stop. He checked my car trunk and other places but there was nothing
there. He came to the driver side to see my car fuel gauge. Immediately he saw
it read full, he told me to park.
“He asked why did I have a full
tank and I asked if it was a crime to do that. He said I was transporting the
fuel to Benin Republic. I didn’t know what to tell him. There, I saw how they
were harassing commoners who travelled more than 30km to get fuel to power
their generator sets. We don’t have electricity or any basic amenities, yet
government is denying us access to fuel. Are we no more Nigerians?”
Likewise, a female government
teacher in the area, who does not want his name in print, expressed displeasure
that security agents in the area allegedly demand bribes from petty traders and
artisans who she said could not survive without fuel.
“It is an aberration that security
agents demand bribes from poor people struggling to eke out a living. These
people need fuel for their businesses. Pepper grinders, barbers, welders,
tailors and others now spend money to get to Owode for fuel. Annoyingly, these
security agents will now demand money from a woman carrying 5 litres of fuel.
This is unfair,
“We know their ogas in Abuja will
not believe us, but we want them to come down here or send a underground task
force to border areas to confirm what we are going through,” she said.
Residents of the area said fuel
now sells between N300 and N500 per litre; bringing about the unbearable hike
in the cost of transportation and other items.
The situation, it was gathered,
has brought about artisans closing down their shops, while mechanised farmers
count their losses.
“Even if you won’t allow fuel to
get to our communities, allow us to go and the fuel at Owode in peace without
any form of harassment.” A youth leader, Abraham Adegoke said.
It could not be ascertained
whether security agents were asked to arrest people going out to buy fuel in
jerry cans as it was not contained in the NCS circular that ordered the
suspension of petroleum products to border communities.
Contacted, the Ogun 1 Command NCS
Spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, said he was not in a position to talk for
security agents involved in the operation Swift Response.
When our correspondent contacted
the Spokesperson for the exercise, Joseph Attah, he said he was aware that the
suspension of petroleum products to border communities came with pains on
people of the affected areas.
Attah, however, said security
agents have been doing what they were asked to do, adding that no amount of
allegations would stop them from doing their job.
“Allegations remain allegations
and that’s what it is. We are busy doing what we are supposed to do. No amount
of allegations will distract us from doing what we are doing.
“I can just tell you a lot of
complaints will come here and there because the restriction on petroleum
discharge has come with some pains to some people. So there have been a whole
lot of issues around that.
“They (security agents) will
continue to do what they have been instructed to do and going forward,
management will look at it,” Attah stated.
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