Customs To Collaborate With Immigration On Trans-Border Crimes  

The Cross River Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has called for collaboration between it and the Nigeria Immigration to reduce trans-border crimes in the state.
Mrs Nanbyen Burromvyat, Custom Comptroller in-charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command, made this known in Calabar on Tuesday.
She made the call during a familiarisation visit to the state Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs Funke Adeuyi.
Burromvyat, who assumed the leadership of the command three weeks ago, expressed regret that the problem of trans-border crimes was on the increase.
She emphasised that it was important for both security agencies to work together to achieving a unified purpose, rather than “flexing muscle” during the lines of duty.
“The issue of trans-border crime is on the increase in Nigeria.
“As sisters’ agencies, we need to form a strong collaboration to curbing child theft, illegal migration, and importation of contraband goods among others.
“We need information sharing among ourselves, especially at the borders.
“Most of the fake goods and other forms of illegality are usually carried on at the borders; we need to work hard.’’
Responding, Adeuyi said that the state command of the Immigration service had zero tolerance for child theft and trafficking, illegal migration among others.
She explained that Immigration and Customs in the state had a long standing relationship, especially at border posts.
The customs boss in the state also visited the Cross River Commissioner of Police, Mr Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, where she also sought collaboration and support of the command.
She complained to the commissioner that some low ranking officers of the police usually proved stubborn in according respect to very senior officers of the customs.
She, therefore, urged the police to always organise sensitisation workshop for its personnel with a view to reminding them on the need for esprit-de-corps.
Responding, Ozi-Obeh said that any rank and file officer who failed to respect senior officers of other security agencies during the line of duty would be disciplined, “if the matter is reported to me’’.
The commissioner assured the area comptroller of customs of a smooth working relationship between the two agencies in the state.
The Controller also visited the Commander of 305 Special Mobility Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Calabar, Air Commander Mahmud Madi.