The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and other security agencies in Katsina State are considering the establishment of a joint taskforce to effectively combat cross-border crime.
Tahir Balarabe, the Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer for Katsina Customs Area Controller, made this known in a statement on Saturday.
This decision comes after Mohammed Abubakar Umar, the Controller of the Katsina Area Command of the NCS, paid a courtesy visit to security offices in the state recently.
During a meeting at the Headquarters of the 17 Brigade, Nigeria Army in Katsina, the Controller sought the cooperation of the Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Oluremi Ayobami Fadairo, in curbing transborder crimes in the state.
The Controller emphasized the need for a joint security taskforce and credible intelligence sharing among military and paramilitary agencies in order to effectively tackle transborder crimes and other security challenges facing the state.
He stated, “The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service have a longstanding history of collaboration in border management, intelligence sharing, and capacity building. Therefore, I am here to strengthen the existing relationship and to do more.”
In response, Fadairo assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to work diligently with the NCS to address transborder crimes, banditry, and other security challenges in the state.
During the visit to the State Police Command, the Controller informed the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, that the Customs is committed to working with the police to facilitate trade in the state while ensuring national security is not compromised.
He added, “We will also revive the joint security taskforce and implement other security measures that will help curb banditry and other crimes in society.”
The Commissioner of Police, Musa, expressed readiness to cooperate with the NCS to combat smuggling and other transborder crimes, facilitating the state’s development and promoting legitimate economic activities.
He further stated that the synergy among security agencies in the state has significantly reduced the level of crime and criminal activities, particularly in frontline local government areas, including Katsina town.
Umar also visited the Controller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Adamu, advocating for collaboration to end the activities of what he referred to as “economic saboteurs.”
He highlighted the NCS’s desire for a collective effort from all security agencies in terms of intelligence sharing, dismantling criminal networks, and creating a peaceful atmosphere for Nigerians.
In response, Controller Adamu described the courtesy call as a positive step towards strengthening the existing relationship among security agencies in the state.
He revealed that foreign nationals uncovered during a recent census conducted by the Command have been repatriated because their stay in Katsina was deemed illegal.
Furthermore, Umar visited the Katsina State Commands of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCSo), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all of whom expressed their readiness to ensure effective partnership in all aspects for better service delivery in the state.
