The Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege has admonished men of the Nigerian Customs and Excise to stop harassing innocent traders in Nigerian markets over their failure to protect the country’s borders against smuggling.
Penpushing reports that, the monarch made the call in response to a mass protest by women traders in Sango market who accused Customs officials of breaking into their locked-up shops Tuesday night and carted away hundreds of bags of rice and other market wares.
The royal father accompanied by another notable ruler in Ogun State, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, described as “reckless abandonment” of the Nigeria customs responsibility to guide the country’s borders against smuggling and shifting their attention to innocent traders outside the borders.
Penpushing further reports that Olota also in company of some of his chiefs questioned the rationale of the customs’ raid at midnight if their actions were genuine and transparent,just as a trader Madam Nusirat who was an eyewitness and victim alleged that the men in customs paraphernalia arrived their shops at about 1.30 am Tuesday fully armed.
The woman alleged that the customs officials broke into shops and removed bags of rice and other valuables, adding that her hand bag containing the previous day’s sales proceeds, was snatched and taken away.
Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of Aworiland assured the traders that an official report would be launched with the Comptroller of Customs, pleading with the traders to remain calm and not engage in self help
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