... Calls for Special Incentives for Patrol Officers
ZAINAB JUNAID
Following the incessant attacks unleashed on the patrol teams of Kebbi and Katsina Area Commands of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) which led to the death of two officers of the Command and left one in serious injury, the Media Anti-Corruption Initiative (MACI) has condemned the incidents and called for special incentives to be made available for all patrol officers.
The group, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Captain Adamu Mshelia and the Secretary, Mr. Funso Olojo, the Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), expressed sadness over the spate of the attacks, which came in quick succession, with serious casualties recorded
According to the Statement, the group viewed the incident as one attack too many.
It partly reads, "We condemn in totality the attacks on Customs operatives who are on their legitimate duties, especially the two attacks that occurred last week in Kebbi State where two officers lost their lives and one operative fatally wounded in Katsina State."
MACI sent its condolences to the grieving Comptroller General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, and the entire service as well as the family of the deceased.
"We commiserate with the Customs management and the families of the victims, and pray for an end to such unprovoked attacks .
The NGO observed that these incessant attacks call for proactive approach from the Federal Government and the Customs management.
"We call on government to arm the enforcement unit of Customs with sophisticated weapons, especially in these days of militancy in volatile parts of the country.
"We believe Customs operatives are not only threat to smugglers but to other criminal elements who may want to sneak in firearms or move around unchallenged.
"This calls for tactical planning on the part of the enforcement unit in order to have advantages over their attackers.
"They must always be on the alert and ensure that they are not few in number.
"Where they are at a checkpoint, some operatives should be in hiding, 100 percent on the alert to respond rapidly to attacks on the officers manning the road.
"Furthermore, we recommend special incentives for these operatives as well as a comprehensive insurance package to serve as motivation for their selfless but dangerous service to their fatherland.
"It is imperative to arm these operatives on the special mission with sophisticated weapons to match the equally deadly arms in the hands of these criminals.
"By this, these officers would not be sitting ducks for the criminals they are meant to haunt down who more often than not, have more sophisticated weapons " the group advised.
