Attack on Customs in Kaduna: Dealers National body dessociates self
//Godwin Ekosin, Northwest Nigeria//
Resulting from dangerouse clash btween a patrol team of Nigerian Customs Service and some angry youths suspected to be car dealers that led to setting ablaze customs’ patrol pick up Hilus van in Kaduna recently, Car Dealers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch has dissociated itself from the attack.
The association condemned in strong terms the attack which it attributed to the activities of miscreants who took advantage of the situation.
The available information alleged that, men of customs service had attempted to bust dealers’ garage located at Ungwan Sheriki/Sanu area of the State when the incident occurred. The customs vehicle was razed.
Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi NaBrazil who addressed a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday in company of other members of the association said, the relationship between the car dealers and the Nigerian Custom Service has been very cordial over the years.
He emphasised that it’s members who have been very law abiding will not resort to such acts of setting ablaze the custom vehicle and further, reiterating that the development was caused by miscreants.
He however apologised profusely to the Nigerian Customs for the destruction caused their vehicle and further condemn the act in totality.
According to the chairman, “the ncidence took place without our notice by unknown miscreants who took advantage of the situation because our members will certainly not carry out such embarrassing acts.
“We are law abiding citizens and have enjoyed cordial relationship with the Nigerian Custom Service and have no reason whatsoever to destroy their vehicle in the cause of discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
“Meanwhile, while condemning the act, we also apologise for such act of lawlessness exhibited by miscreants within the area at that point in time” he stressed.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of BT Motors Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi whose four vehicles were picked to the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) of the Nigerian Custom Service office in Kawo, said he was in the custom office while the act perpetrated by the miscreants took place.
According to him, “customs officers came to my office and ordered four cars to be taken to their FOU office suspecting that they are without duty papers and I honourably gave them the keys to the said cars and I followed them to their office for explanations.
“It was while I was in their office that I heard that some miscreants have attacked their vehicles along Ali Akilu road about a kilometer plus far away from my office which is located at Isa Kaita road and have set ablaze one of their operational vehicle.
“I want to emphasised that our members couldn’t have carried out the burning of the vehicle because we are law abiding. But we condemn the act and we are making serious efforts to amicably resolve the issue, and we are indeed sorry for what happened”.