SEME CUSTOMS DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM “POISONED RICE ” RUMOUR
The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wants to clarify that it adheres strictly to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in disposing of seized goods, guided by transparency, due process, and extant laws. Consequently, the Command dissociates itself from the circulating rumor alleging the distribution of seized rice purported to be harmful to consumers
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, made the clarification in a release, he said,
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command has been drawn to a widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner, who then allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.”
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter.”
“It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements wearing the garment of journalism (a credible profession) to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they are supposed to uphold.
Describing the story as false and unfounded, the PRO urged the general public and the purveyors of news to disregard the news being circulated and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation.
“The Seme Area Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, PhD, remains committed to its mandate of revenue generation, suppressing smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade professionally and responsibly in accordance with extant government fiscal policies and laws,” he concluded.
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