Terrorists have reportedly taken control of two fully loaded trucks carrying smuggled goods in a dense forest near the Batsari region of Katsina State.
The incident occurred as smugglers attempted to transport the illicit merchandise into Nigeria through challenging terrain.
During a recent press conference, Dalha Wada Chedi, the Kaduna Area Commander of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), revealed this development.
“We received information less than 24 hours ago that bandits have seized two trucks loaded with smuggled items inside the forest.
“We also understand that a J5 vehicle was also seized by the bandits around that axis,” Chedi stated during the briefing.
Highlighting the complexities faced by customs officials in monitoring such areas, particularly where terrorists activity is prevalent, Chedi emphasized the challenges encountered.
Chedi explained that the criminals targeted the trucks within the forest, exploiting the difficult surveillance conditions along porous borders.
He also noted that the smugglers chose hazardous routes through the forest, leading to the unfortunate hijacking by the terrorists.
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Chedi assured that customs authorities would collaborate with other security agencies to address the situation and enhance border security measures.