C’ River: Customs to team with Immigration to stop cross-border crime

Worried by the increase in trans-border crimes, the Cross River Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has called for a collaboration between the service and the Nigeria Immigration.
The Custom Comptroller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command, Mrs Nanbyen Burromvyat, said it has become pertinent for both security agencies to work together with a view to achieving a unified purpose rather `flexing muscle’ during the lines of duty.
Speaking during a familiarization visit to the state Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs Funke Adeuyi, in Calabar yesterday, Burromvat, who assumed the leadership of the Command three weeks ago, said that the issue of trans-border crime was on the increase.
“The issue of trans-border crime is on the increase in Nigeria. As sisters’ agencies, we need to form a strong collaboration with a view to curb child theft, illegal migration, importation of contra band goods among others,” she said.
“We need information sharing among ourselves, especially at the borders. Most of the fake goods and other forms of illegality are usually carried on at the borders; we need to work hard.”
Also seeking the collaboration of the Cross River Commissioner of police, Mr Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, she complained to the Commissioner that some low ranking officers of the police usually proved stubborn in according respect to very senior officers of Customs.
She, however, urged the police to always organize sensitization workshop for its personnel with a view to always remind them on the need for espirit de corps.
In her remark, Adeuyi said the state command of the Immigration service has zero tolerance for child theft and trafficking, illegal migration among others, addeding that Immigration and Customs in the state have a long standing relationship especially at border posts.