The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed the reports alleging that the agency seized and distributed bags of rice, which had led to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.
It was gathered that parents and relatives have been sending voice messages to their loved ones, warning them against buying or consuming rice, because a foreign trader had invoked the spirit of Ogun deity after her two trucks of rice were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria.
In a voicenote widely circulated on social media, the speakers maintained that two trucks of rice were stolen from a neighbouring country and were later smuggled into Nigeria through the Idiroko border and the Seme border.
It was stated that the owner of the bags of rice, a woman, contacted some Ogun worshipers in Ghana to lay curses on whoever buys or consumes the alleged stolen rice.
In a voice note, it was rumoured that some Customs officers and a soldier had died in Badagry, Lagos State.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by spokesperson Isah Sulaiman, the service declared that the allegations regarding multiple deaths linked to allegedly poisoned rice released by the agency are false and baseless.
The agency further clarified that no such incident occurred within the command’s area or among its personnel, adding that the widely circulated audio does not accurately represent the situation.
Additionally, the agency emphasized its commitment to adhering to the NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disposing of seized goods, which are guided by principles of transparency, due process, and strict compliance with relevant laws and guidelines.
Read the full statement below:
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has been drawn to a widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner, who then allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter. The Command has always adhered to NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disposing of seized goods which is guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines.
“It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS.
“Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements wearing the garment of journalism (a credible profession) to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they are supposed to uphold.
“Consequently, we urge the general public to disregard this unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation.
“The Seme Area Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, PhD, remains committed to its mandate of revenue generation, suppressing smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade professionally and responsibly in accordance with extant government fiscal policies and laws.”
