In the early hours of Saturday, Oja Oba Market in Ibadan was invaded by men of the Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operation Unit Zone A who carted away truckloads of foreign bags of rice.
The Customs officers allegedly broke into shops and warehouses in the market taking away no fewer than eight truckloads of bags of rice, a development which comes barely a month after a similar raid on Bodija Market in the ancient city.
The Public Relations Officer of NCS, FOU Zone A, Theophilus Duniya, confirmed Saturday’s operation, saying the act which established the service empowered it to break into any shop or warehouse whenever it suspects contraband items are stocked in them.
“Yes, an operation was carried out at the market.
“I cannot ascertain the numbers of bags of rice that were evacuated presently.
“Normally after the interception, examination are conducted where the bags are counted to ascertain the number.
“As I speak with you, I’m yet to get that information but I can confirm to you that there was an operation and some bags of rice were evacuated.
“The act establishing the service empowers men and officers of the service to break into any shop or warehouse upon reasonable suspicion of prohibited items stocked therein, with or without a warrant,” Duniya said.
NAN
