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Smuggling booms at Seme border 18 months after reopening

Published

4 years ago

June 11, 2022

Eighteen months after the Federal Government announced the reopening of the Seme border following a 14-month closure, smuggling is once more thriving there, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

When the Federal Government announced the closure of the Seme border in August 2019, the intention was to curb the smuggling of goods and weapons.

A tour of the border by our correspondent showed that there was a lull in commercial activities in the community, while smuggling continued to boom.

The once busy J4 and J5 motor parks located at the border community, where commuters board vehicles to different parts of Lagos State, have long been demolished with little or no space left for vehicles again.

A motorcyclist, Mr Orji Ike, who specialises in conveying passengers across the border, said, “The business of smuggling is booming now unlike before. During the border closure, it was moving very slowly as people were being careful not to be caught. Now, people freely go to Cotonou to buy second-hand clothing and come in and nobody disturbs anybody.

“Even if you want to buy cannabis sativa, I will take you across and when you are done, call me I will come and pick you and nobody will disturb you, but that one comes with extra charges”

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Corroborating the motorcyclist, a trucker, who gave his name simply as Babafryo, added that smuggling of all types of contraband was booming at the border.

He said, “There is no type of goods that we can’t carry across or bring in here; at worst, we go through the waterside. Many people, especially those crossing with contraband, go through the waterside to avoid disturbance even though there is little or no disturbance on the normal route.

“If you are coming in with large quantities of contraband, we have the type of cars we use to bring such goods in and the time so that nobody will disturb the cars. Though business is still very dull now compared to before the closure, we are very hopeful it will pick up. In case you have any thing that you want us to help you take across to either Seme or to bring to Nigeria, let us know; that is what we do.”

A resident of the area, Blessing Adejo, lamented that there had been a massive drop in activities at the border following the closure and eventual reopening, even as he blamed the Monday sit-at-home by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East as the reason the border was dry when our correspondent visited the community on Monday.

“The truth is that since the closure and reopening of the border, activities have been very slow here; you can see how we are just standing with no work. People are not travelling; I believe another reason why the border is so dry today is because of the Monday sit-at-home in the South-East,” Adejo stated.

When queried on why he blamed the sit-at-home as the reason why activities at the border remained low, he said, “We all know that the Igbo travel a lot; they make use of this border more. So, since the sit-at-home started, most of them coming from the South-East cannot come on Mondays, but other days are better.”

A food vendor, Ijeoma Onye, said activities in the area had been paralysed due to the closure and eventual reopening of the border.

Adejo also said a lot of people had relocated out of the area adding, “Some of the people who are doing business in the area have travelled due to low patronage. The area is no longer the way it used to be before the border closure. We are, however, hopeful that business will soon pick up again.”

The Seme chapter Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Lasisi Fanu, said it was now more expensive to bring in goods through the border than through the seaports.

He said members of the association spent a minimum of N1.8m to clear a 40-foot container and N1.3m to clear a 20-foot container, adding that the government had stopped informal trade, which was affecting their businesses drastically.

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Fanu stated, “There has not been any change since they reopened the border; the border was reopened in 2020 and nothing drastically has changed. The clearing procedure in Cotonou still remains the same; it has been N1.8m for 40-foot and N1.3m for 20-foot containers.

“Before now, we used trucks to load goods from Cotonou directly, so you can combine more than one container in a truck and move it as one, because it was an informal trade then. But before they reopen the border, they said the informal trade must stop and it has stopped. They said the goods must move into Nigeria in the original form, which is containerised, and it must be received by the Nigeria Customs Service before you can think of opening the container.”

He also said that most of the trucks with goods going to Cotonou were under the Economic Community of West African Trade Liberalisation Scheme.

Fanu added, “So with that in Nigeria now, we work with the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report. Though we worked with the PAAR before, we paid in bulk as informal trade, but now, you open PAAR with the container number and you pay the same amount and still pay in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“So, that extra amount we pay in Cotonou stands to be something extraordinary, because it is not applicable for people that import through Lagos. If, for instance, you spend N2.5m as the landing cost from Cotonou, Lagos will spend N1.5m because of the extra cost of clearing in the Cotonou port.”

Fanu said life in the border community had been tough since the reopening because the government had failed to show its presence in the community.

He advised the government to establish a truck park at the border, adding that the facility would generate revenue for the government.

Fanu added, “Life has been tough here since the reopening of the border. If the government of Nigeria can provide some services at the border post like trailer parks, they will be generating revenue for the government. But the government doesn’t want to do that; how do you think people living in the border community will survive? They will have to involve themselves in one illegal trade or the other.

“So, life here is very tough because the government has failed to show its presence in the community. We have been asking to be given facilities, but they have refused. Seme border happens to be the only industry in this area, likewise Idiroko and Owode. Since the reopening, nothing has been given to the border community.”

Also speaking, the Seme border Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Ekene Onyeebuchi, said, “There is not much change at the border; presently we don’t have enough work here as business no longer come. Imported goods are very scanty here; once in a while you will see one or two containers. Before the closure, business was booming, but now, to clear goods here is more expensive because the government of Benin Republic has added some charges to what we pay.

“They now take a high transit charge; we spend CFA1.4m in Cotonou, which is almost the same thing with the naira and you need to carry it by truck to the border where you will spend almost CFA500,000. And they have a container deposit of about CFA3m. So, these are some of the challenges and the government will take some percentage out as tax.”

Speaking on the issue of smuggling, the Customs Public Relations Officer in charge of the command, Husseni Abdullahi, said, “There is no country in the world where there is no smuggling, the countries only fight to reduce it to the barest minimum.

“There is no country in the world where smuggling has been stopped completely; we only try to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum and to the best of our ability. I know that officers and men of my command are doing their best to ensure that we suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.”

He said the commonest products smuggled through the route were petroleum products and so far, the command had seized over 300,000 litres

Abdullahi stated, “And to tell you the fact that we are doing that, the common smuggling activity in this terrain is smuggling of petroleum products and as far as I am concerned, the command is doing wonderfully well on that aspect. I can tell you that between January and now, we have over 327,000 litres of petroleum products seized by the officers.

“We are still on that even as I am talking to you, we still have seizures of petroleum products. We have measures to suppress smuggling in this axis aside from the Customs Area Controller patrol team, we have other patrol teams; we have the anti-bunkering unit that has to do with that one.

“And to God be the glory, we are achieving success in that regard. You will never see second-hand clothing in our domain because we don’t allow that; we have two approved checkpoints by the government.”

Related Topics:Featured reopening Seme border smuggling

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Gunmen Invade Kogi School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Four Students

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July 15, 2026

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Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat

Gunmen Invade Kogi School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Four Students

Armed gunmen on Tuesday invaded a secondary school in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State during the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, abducting the school principal, four students and a NECO ad hoc official.

The attack, which occurred at Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, also known as GSS Olowa, at about 5:25 p.m., threw the examination centre into panic as candidates and teachers scampered for safety.

Eyewitnesses said the heavily armed assailants stormed the school premises while the examination was in progress and whisked away the victims to an unknown destination before fleeing the scene.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command said security operatives had launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the police, military and other security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed that one of the abducted students had already been rescued, while efforts were ongoing to free the remaining captives and apprehend the perpetrators.

She said the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, alongside the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser, visited the school shortly after the incident to assess the situation and coordinate security operations.

According to the police spokesperson, additional security personnel have been deployed to the area as investigations continue.

“The Kogi State Police Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has commenced an intensive operation to rescue the remaining victims unhurt and bring the perpetrators to justice,” she said.

The latest abduction has heightened concerns over the security of schools across Nigeria, particularly during national examinations, as students continue to face threats from criminal elements.

The incident comes amid renewed efforts by security agencies to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country. Education stakeholders and residents have called on the Federal Government and the Kogi State Government to strengthen security around schools to safeguard students, teachers and examination officials.

As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, while authorities assured the public that every effort was being made to secure the release of the remaining abductees.

The attack adds to the growing list of security challenges confronting the nation’s education sector, where schools have increasingly become targets for kidnappers seeking ransom. Parents and community leaders have urged the government to adopt more proactive measures to prevent further attacks and restore confidence in the safety of educational institutions.

Gunmen Invade Kogi School During NECO Exam, Abduct Principal, Four Students

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Police Nab Bandit Logistics Supplier, Recover 109 Ammunition Rounds in Kano

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July 15, 2026

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Police Nab Bandit Logistics Supplier, Recover 109 Ammunition Rounds in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected bandit logistics supplier and recovered an AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, an additional 79 rounds, suspected military uniforms, and other incriminating items in a swift operation at Rimaye Village, Bichi Local Government Area.

The suspect, identified as Mohammed Isah Haruna, 28, of Dan Dinshe Yamma Quarters in Dala Local Government Area, was arrested on Saturday, July 12, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m. following a credible tip-off from a vigilant resident who reported seeing a man dressed in a suspected military uniform at Rimaye Village in Bichi LGA.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed the development in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa. According to the statement, operatives from the Bichi Police Division, working in collaboration with members of the Rimawa community, swiftly responded to the tip-off and intercepted the suspect. During a search of his bag, police recovered one AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, an additional 79 rounds of AK-47 ammunition bringing the total to 109 rounds, two sets of suspected military uniforms, three military caps, a suspected fake military identity card, a National Identity Card, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, a voter’s card, four Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, and a pair of desert boots.

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During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was in the area to deliver the recovered items to bandits operating in the bush. The police said the suspect remains in custody while a discreet investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network. The case will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Commissioner Bakori commended members of the Rimawa community for their vigilance and prompt report, describing the arrest as a testament to the effectiveness of community policing. “This arrest underscores the importance of community partnership in policing. We appreciate the Rimawa Community and all good people of Kano for their support. Security is a collective responsibility,” the commissioner said.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led and community-based policing across Kano State’s 44 local government areas in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu. It also urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies to support efforts aimed at combating crime and enhancing public safety. In case of emergencies or to report suspicious activities, the command can be contacted via 08032419755, 08123821575, or 09029292926.

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Lagos Police Bust N1.02bn Vehicle Fraud Syndicate, Recover Exotic Vehicles

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July 15, 2026

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Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, (second from the left), flanked by other officers during a press briefing on Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Lagos Police Bust N1.02bn Vehicle Fraud Syndicate, Recover Exotic Vehicles

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a sophisticated vehicle fraud syndicate accused of defrauding automobile dealers of exotic vehicles worth over N1.02 billion through deception, dud and post-dated cheques. Detectives have recovered several luxury vehicles and launched a manhunt for the alleged ringleader, Otunba Olamilekan Ismail, who is currently at large.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Tijani Fatai, disclosed the development on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja on recent breakthroughs recorded by the command. According to him, detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, harmonised three separate complaints initially reported independently by different victims after discovering striking similarities in the suspects’ operational methods. The harmonised investigations revealed a coordinated criminal network specialising in conspiracy, obtaining goods under false pretences, fraudulent conversion, stealing, and the issuance of dud cheques.

Investigations established that the syndicate targeted reputable vehicle dealers by falsely claiming they were purchasing vehicles on behalf of influential clients or for prominent politicians in Abuja. The suspects allegedly issued post-dated or dud cheques as payment before quickly transferring the vehicles to third parties and concealing the identities of the masterminds through intermediaries. The fraud involved vehicles valued at more than N1.02 billion, including seven luxury vehicles worth about N700 million and 10 Toyota Hiace buses valued at N320 million. Investigators also linked the syndicate to another 12 exotic vehicles allegedly obtained through similar means from different dealers.

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In the first case, a suspect identified as Muritala confessed to obtaining vehicles under the false promise that payment would be made after their disposal. During interrogation, he implicated Fatai Balogun, popularly known as “Eleku,” who was already under investigation for a similar offence. Balogun later admitted his involvement and told investigators that the vehicles had been delivered to Otunba Olamilekan Ismail, also known as Otunba Jaji, who is currently at large. Balogun claimed Olamilekan promised him a 30 per cent commission from the proceeds of the vehicles.

Using intelligence-led operations and the AUTOREG vehicle tracking platform, detectives recovered several vehicles linked to the syndicate. The recovered vehicles include a 2010 Toyota RAV4, a 2007 Toyota Highlander, a 2017 Toyota Highlander, a 2020 Toyota Hiace bus, a 2018 Ford Edge SUV, and two 2016 Toyota Hiace buses.

In the second case, three complainants accused Balogun, Ismail Olamilekan, and others of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, issuing dud cheques, and stealing. The suspects fraudulently obtained seven vehicles worth about N700 million after falsely claiming they were supplying them to prominent politicians in Abuja. Payment was made with post-dated cheques, all of which were dishonoured when presented at the bank. The principal suspect admitted selling the vehicles to different buyers.

In the third case, Balogun, Bashiru Babatunde, and others allegedly fraudulently acquired 10 Toyota Hiace buses valued at N320 million after claiming they were acting on behalf of one Alhaji Ismaila and another suspect identified simply as Segun, both of whom remain at large. The cheque issued in payment was returned due to insufficient funds. Detectives recovered eight of the buses, although they had sustained damage, while two buses valued at N56.5 million are still missing.

One of the suspects, a 68-year-old man, denied knowing the vehicles were fraudulently obtained, claiming his role was limited to introducing buyers for a 30 per cent commission. The police said the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue to identify and arrest other members of the criminal network. All cases will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Commissioner Fatai commended the detectives for their thorough work and advised vehicle dealers to exercise due diligence before releasing vehicles, especially where transactions involve post-dated cheques or unknown agents. “The success of this investigation underscores our commitment to dismantling organised criminal syndicates operating within and beyond Lagos State. All suspects connected with these cases will be apprehended and prosecuted,” he said.