Hundreds of market women under the banner of Ifesowapo Association of Rice Sellers, Lafenwa market on Thursday branch trooped to major streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital protesting alleged invasion and breaking of their shops by customs officials to seize bags of rice.
Penpushing reports that the protesters led by their secretary Aderonke Mofeoluwa were seen with leaves and various placards to emphasize their displeasure over the alleged operations of the customs adding that the officials broke into their shops at odd hours of Thursday.
The protesters claimed that the Thursday invasion was not the first, recalling that similar raid was conducted by the customs on May 27 and 29, 2024, adding that the bags of rice seized from the operations worth N20million.
Penpushing further reports that the rice traders lamented that they took loan for the business which they said had been collapsed by the operations of the customs officials, crying that they have ran into debt following the development
The Secretary 2 of the association, Folake Clement during the protest said number of shops were broken midnight of Wednesday by the officials, adding that the officials are fond of carrying out the operations at odd hours of the day.
Penpushing also reports that the protesters explained that the trade is their only source of living and appealed to the authorities to consider their loss and plights, stressing that majority of them are widows and single parents who manage to train their children through the proceeds of the rice business.
The traders alleged that the customs made away with 255 bags of rice in the separate operations lamenting that as at the time of their protest they are helpless, adding that from records the seized bags of rice worth N20million
‘We are market women under the banner of Ifesowapo Association of Rice Sellers, Lafenwa market. Customs at midnight invaded and broke our shops to remove bags of rice worth millions of naira. They are fond of doing this at odd hours of the day’, Clement said.
‘They had earlier come on May 27 and 29, 2024 and removed 105 bags, again on midnight of Wednesday they invaded and broke our shops and moved away 150 bags of rice. We took loan for this business and we are now in debt. We are begging customs because majority of us are orphans and single mothers, trying to raise our children from this business’, she emphasised
Penpushing reports that the Comptroller of Customs Adewale Adeniyi in reaction declared that smuggled items are still smuggled items anywhere they are, even if smugglers able to get them into the market it does not change their status, they still remain smuggled items.
‘I will be engaging the comptroller federal operations on the issues of anti-smuggling operations in the market. It’s a NO for me and I will not tolerate and allow us to get into the market’, the customs boss added
‘But let me stress here that smuggled items are still smuggled items anywhere they are. If we are able to get them into the market it does not change their status, they still remain smuggled items. But there could be a more civil way in which we would control these things in such a way that it will not create this kind of problems and unnecessary problems for the state government’, he explained.
‘Sometimes some of this market women might not even be able to draw a line to know whose agent the people are working for is it for the governor, president and all of that .They just see us as agent of the state and because of that we need to be careful’, he stated.
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