The Federal Government has constituted a crack border team to tackle the rising wave of armed banditry and insecurity in the country as part of efforts to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime border. The team will comprise personnel of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force. The collaboration will also involve other security and intelligence agencies will be conducting Codenamed”EX-SWIFT RESPONSE”,
The joint exercise is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will take place in 4 geopolitical zones, namely; South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West. A statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service ,Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Joseph Attah explained that the exercise will among other things promote inter-agency co-operation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, amongst others.
The exercise, Attah further revealed will also involve the restriction of movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country. “Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic and should continue to engage in their normal duties. The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our National Security”, he further explained.
Asu Beks