“Ogun Rice Sellers Protest Customs Raid and Rice Seizures, Demand Consideration for Their Plight”
Rice sellers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, protested on Thursday against the alleged invasion of their shops by Customs officials. The traders, organized under the Ifesowapo Association of Rice Sellers at Lafenwa Market, marched through the city with placards and leaves, expressing their anger over recent raids. They claimed Customs operatives broke into their shops at midnight, seizing 255 bags of rice, and highlighted that a similar raid on May 27 and 29, 2024, resulted in the seizure of 105 bags worth N20 million. The traders, many of whom are widows and single parents, lamented their financial losses and the debt incurred from business loans. Customs Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi responded, acknowledging the need for a more civil approach to anti-smuggling operations while maintaining that smuggled items remain contraband regardless of their location. He promised to discuss the issue with the Comptroller of Federal Operations to find a balance between enforcement and public impact.