Border closure: Nigerian Army goes tough on smugglers, seizes 85 bags of rice in Ebonyi
- The Nigerian Army has intercepted 85 bags of rice weighing 50kg each in Ebonyi state as part of its ongoing Exercise Atologwu Udo 1
- Colonel Aliyu Yusuf, the deputy of public relations of 82 division, said the raid was made successful by the intelligence received by sector 6 troops
- The colonel also added that the seized goods have been handed to the state commissioner of internal affairs for an appropriate action
The Nigerian Army has seized 85 bags of smuggled rice in a compound in Abor-Uwani community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi as part of its raid called “Exercise Atologwu Udo 1”.
The recent development was made known in a statement by Colonel Aliyu Yusuf, the deputy director of public relations of 82 division of the Nigerian Army on Saturday, December 28, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
He added that bags of rice were intercepted on Thursday, December 19, with the help of an intelligence received by the sector 6 troops of the exercise.
“Troops on patrol following a tip-off from the Department of State Security (DSS) raided a compound where a Mercedes Benz truck loaded with 85 bags of suspected smuggled foreign rice was packed. This was in Abor-Uwani community in Afikpo North Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State.
“The suspects – Mr Bartholomew Obioha Nwankwo, 49, and Mr Nkama Agu, 57, - both from Unwana community in Afikpo North LGA were arrested in connection with the smuggled rice,’’ he said.
Colonel Aliyu also said that the intercepted bags of rice have been submitted to the Ebonyi state commissioner for internal affairs for onward action.
In related event, the same soldiers also apprehended five suspects that were dealing in harmful substances.
PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, extended Operations Ayim Akpatuma, Atologwu Ugo, Crocodile Smile IV from Monday, December 23, 2019 to Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
Buratai said that this is as a result of the groundbreaking and impressive prgress recorded in the operations and exercises throughout Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army boss mentioned the Exercise Positive Identification as one of the key successes it has made so far.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better
Border closure: Nigerians now prefer eba to rice - traders lament | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
