The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 6,240 items of suspected explosive substances it intercepted in 2022 along Yauri-Jega road in the state.

The command’s area comptroller, Iheanacho Ernest-Ejike, made this known on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi while handing over the items to the state’s State Security Service (SSS).

He said a joint border patrol team comprising the NCS and the SSS, led by Chief Superintendent of Customs, A.A Ibrahim (now assistant comptroller) intercepted an item suspected to be explosives along the Yauri-Jega road in Kebbi at about 7:15 a.m. on July 6, 2022.

Mr Ernest-Ejike added, “Because of the nature of the items, we could not continue to keep them in our custody for a long time, and that was the main reason we are handing them over to the DSS.”

He explained that a joint examination was conducted in the presence of relevant units, including the customs intelligence unit, the customs police unit, and the command officers.

Mr Ernest-Ejike added that the suspected items were found to contain 40 cartons and sacks, totalling 6,240 pieces of cap-sensitive dynamite explosives (super power 90) loaded on the white canter with registration number ZUR 882 ZY.

“Also, a Haojue motorbike with registration number JEG 562UQ was seized alongside the items.

“Two suspects were apprehended alongside the detailed items: Abdullahi Aliyu (the owner of the vehicle) and Alhaji Mustapha Garba-Jega (the receiver of the consignment).

“The two suspects have been charged to court and were remanded,” he said.

Mr Ernest-Ejike noted that each dynamite explosive item could destroy a one-storey building.

The area comptroller said, “The DSS who are responsible will be handing over the items in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration and for continued investigation.”

In his response after receiving the items, the state deputy director of SSS, Anthony Oduwalu, commended the NCS for the diligent work.

He assured that the inter-agency collaboration, which had yielded many results in the state, would be sustained. 

(NAN)