By Onu Okorie

 The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, says it foiled an attempt to smuggle three pump-action rifles into the country, even as it announced an 8 percent rise in revenue collection for the three months to May 2026.

Briefing journalists at a press conference, the Acting Customs Area Controller for the Command, Deputy Comptroller WM Adewole, said the seizures were achieved through what he described as sustained intelligence-driven operations and closer collaboration with sister security agencies.

Adewole disclosed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the attempted rifle smuggling and were currently being investigated. He said the Command was working with its Intelligence Unit, Customs Police Unit, and Legal Unit to establish the circumstances behind the attempt and ensure that everyone linked to it faced prosecution.

According to the Controller, the cumulative Duty Paid Value of items seized by the Command during the period under review stood at ₦3,221,843,672. He said the interceptions had helped protect local industries, support public safety, and disrupt the activities of smugglers and other economic saboteurs.

In a separate case, the Command, working with the Amotekun Corps in Ibadan, arrested a suspect accused of defrauding members of the public by falsely claiming he could secure them jobs with the Nigeria Customs Service in exchange for money. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, Adewole said.

He used the briefing to warn the public against falling for such schemes, stressing that recruitment into the Service is transparent, merit-based, and conducted only through officially approved channels. Members of the public were urged to be wary of anyone offering Customs employment in exchange for payment.

On revenue, Adewole said the Command collected ₦28,503,393,802.75 between March and May 2026, up from ₦26,233,796,496.57 generated over the same period in 2025 — an increase of about 8 percent. He attributed the growth to the dedication of officers and the cooperation of compliant stakeholders and traders, adding that the Command remained committed to plugging revenue leakages.

As part of the briefing, the Command said it would present commendation awards to officers who had distinguished themselves through exemplary conduct and outstanding service delivery, describing the gesture as a way of recognising merit and motivating staff to maintain high standards of integrity and discipline.

Adewole closed by thanking stakeholders, sister security agencies, the business community, and the media for their continued cooperation, and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade, and supporting national economic growth under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.