A series of videos posted by @fijnigeria on Twitter has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about corruption within Nigeria’s Customs agency.
The footage captures IBD Dende, a notorious smuggler in the South West, threatening to kill a Customs officer who seized his illicit goods.
The officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs, narrowly escaped harm thanks to the intervention of his colleagues.
What’s particularly alarming is the demeanor of the Customs officers in the videos. Despite being armed, they appear to placate Dende instead of apprehending him. Sources have revealed that these armed officers are actually aligned with Dende, raising concerns about collusion and corruption within the Customs ranks.
Further complicating matters, Dende can be heard boasting about his connections within the Customs hierarchy.
He mentions “Ejigbunu,” believed to be Hussein Ejigbunu, a Customs Comptroller previously linked to smuggling operations.
Dende also references “Wale,” allegedly referring to Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the current Comptroller-General of Customs, suggesting a disturbingly close relationship between smugglers and high-ranking Customs officials.
Dende’s brazen questioning of why Customs officers didn’t intercept trailers smuggling rice from Seme underscores the extent of corruption within the agency.
It aligns with longstanding suspicions that senior Customs officials are complicit in smuggling activities, undermining efforts to combat illicit trade.
The videos have sparked calls for a thorough investigation into corruption within the Customs agency.
The government must address systemic issues and root out individuals compromising Nigeria’s security and economic interests.
Failure to do so risks further erosion of public trust and perpetuation of illicit practices that harm the nation’s well-being.
