Protest looms in A’ Ibom over Customs’ seizure of N163m goods at Itam market

By Dennis Udoma, Uyo

Protest is looming in Akwa Ibom following a mid-night sting operation allegedly carried out by men of the Nigeria Customs and allied security forces at Itam market in Itu, near Uyo, the State capital last Friday.

It was learned that personnel of the Nigeria Customs in a joint security team of Police, Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives among others ransacked over 40 shops at about 11:30 pm and carted away goods and cash worth about N163m.
Irked by this action, the traders have issued a 7 – Day ultimatum which began last Monday, to the federal government for the security forces to return their goods and monies or they lock up their shops in protest over the seizures.
The traders under the auspices of Itam Traders Market Association, have already sent the ultimatum letter to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to also register their grievance.

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the association, Mr. Godwin Ebong, while addressing journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, explained that, he was informed by one of the night guards in the market that on that eventful day at about 11:30 pm, suspected armed robbers broke into the market when traders had left and when he approached them, they pointed guns at him and began to break shops.

“It was on Friday night at about 11: 30 pm, one of the Night Guards called to inform me that, some armed robbers invaded the market. He said “robbers” broke into the market with their guns. When he approached them, they pointed torchlights and guns at him and said we are not for you.

“They said they were on national assignment and we understood they packed goods into more than 10 vehicles. We discovered the following day that more than 40 shops were broken into, while goods including foreign rice, beans and groundnut oil were taken away.

“We have therefore written to the National Security Adviser, NSA, and given the FG 7 – days ultimatum to return our goods and money else, we will shut down the market and go on a peaceful protest to all the security agencies and Akwa Ibom Government House to register our protest.

“Although I am against traders selling foreign rice but, the question is; how did the foreign rice get into Akwa Ibom, when Customs are always on the road? We should also know that these traders are interested in profit and when people make demands for such goods, they go to any extent to get it for customers”, he said.

Ebong explained further that, “most of our traders do not have bank accounts because, they collect goods on credit and pay back the following morning. So, it is difficult for them to be carrying cash about when they know they will settle their creditors the next day.”

Meanwhile, the Customs Operations Comptroller in Uyo, Mr. Tunku Lokoja has confirmed the Itam market operations attributing it to the office of the National Security Adviser in the presidency, Abuja.

Lokoja said further explanations on the matter would be handled by their office in Calabar, Cross River State.

“That operation was carried out at the instance of the National Security Adviser and we are not under them. So, whatever goods they took from the operations, you have to contact Calabar for more information.

“The team comprised of the Nigeria Customs, Army, Immigration, DSS and the Police. I don’t know what they took from there. As I said you have to contact Calabar for information on it.

Special Assistant to the Governor on Market and Trade, Mr. Raphael decried the unwarranted attack and also queried the extension of the raid to provisions.