By RAJI RASAK

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has dismissed the allegation of releasing poisoned rice seized from smugglers, which had reportedly resulted in multiple deaths in the town.

The spokesman for the command, CSC Isah Sulaiman, denied the allegation in a statement on Sunday in Seme, Lagos.

According to him, the attention of the command has been drawn to the widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that they seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that fear had gripped the residents of Seme border and Badagry communities on Wednesday following reports that contaminated rice, allegedly released by the NCS had caused multiple deaths, including that of a soldier.

The unverified claims suggested that the rice was cursed by its original owner after being seized and redistributed without his knowledge.

According to local sources, bags of rice confiscated by the NCS were later released into the market without the owner?s knowledge.

Sulaiman said the allegation also claimed that the owner allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.

?The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading and does not reflect the reality of the matter.

?The command has always adhered to NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disposing of seized goods, which is guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines.

?It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command?s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS,? he said.

Sulaiman, however, said some unscrupulous elements were wearing the garment of journalism to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they were supposed to uphold.

?We urge the public to disregard this unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation.

?The Seme command, under Dr Ben Oramalugo, remains committed to its mandate of revenue generation, suppressing smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade professionally in accordance with extant government fiscal policies and laws,? he said. (NAN)

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