Men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted a consignment of military uniforms concealed in a luggage of a pilgrim returning from Saudi Arabia.
?The consignment consists of 23 sets of air force and army uniforms.
?
The customs zonal comptroller in charge of Kano and Jigawa zone, Alhaji Sunusi Usman Azare, who paraded the seized uniforms alongside two suspects, said the seizure was made at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport last Saturday.
?
Azare, who described the act as breach of national security, explained that the luggage was discovered by his men when a foreign airliner, Tradecraft, brought pilgrims from Saudi Arabia at the weekend.
?
“During our routine check we found that it (the bag) contained some camouflaged uniforms similar to that of military uniforms belonging to the Nigeria Air force and the Nigeria Army. With the help of our Customs Intelligence Unit we were able to get to the suspects, the owners of the bag,” the comptroller stated.
?
Giving details of the consignment, the customs boss said that the bag which bore the name of one Mohd Magaji Azare from Katagum contained 21 shirts and 20 trousers all in the colours of the air force as well as two shirts and a trouser similar to that of the army.
?
He said investigation revealed that the owner of the bag was given the consignment by one Alhaji Usman whom he met in Saudi Arabia in the course of the pilgrimage to help him deliver to his (Usman’s) brother in Kano.
?
The prime suspect, Magaji, who admitted that he made the mistake of not crosschecking the luggage before accepting to help Usman, said he did not suspect that it contained any illegal article.
?
Men of the Customs Service at the airport promptly arrested Magaji and one Muhammad Auwal, younger brother of the Saudi-based Usman, while the two were trying to get the luggage out of the airport.
?
Customs officials say investigation is still ongoing and the two suspects would soon be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and subsequent action.
