The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has firmly denied widely circulated allegations claiming the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the alleged owner, who purportedly invoked traditional powers leading to the deaths of individuals, including a soldier in Badagry.

In a statement signed by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the Command described the allegations as unfounded, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

The statement stressed that the Command strictly adheres to the Nigeria Customs Service Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the disposal of seized goods, which are guided by transparency, due process, and strict compliance with existing laws and regulations.

The Command clarified that there has been no incident within its Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among its personnel to support the claims of deaths allegedly resulting from rice consumption linked to Customs activities.

“It is unfortunate that some unscrupulous individuals, masquerading as journalists, have chosen to disseminate such fictitious and malicious narratives in an attempt to mislead the public and undermine the credibility of security agencies, rather than upholding the noble responsibility of factual reporting,” the statement noted.

The Seme Area Command, therefore, urged the public to disregard the misleading story and avoid spreading false information capable of inciting fear or damaging the reputation of the security agencies committed to safeguarding the nation.

Under the leadership of Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, the Command reaffirmed its commitment to its core mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and facilitation of legitimate trade in a professional and responsible manner, in line with the government’s fiscal policies and regulations.