As a Nigerian, the interest of the nation is my primary concern and I feel most Nigerians share my view. Having agreed, we have to be sure we come against anything that will continue to drag us in the mud, anything that will paint us black is unacceptable.

We have been ridiculed before the world and enough is enough. God is against every form of evil. The masses have suffered greatly because of corrupt practices from the Nigerian Customs. Agreed, not all of them are corrupt but majority are guilty.

These are men who claim to be checking crime. They check goods brought illegally into the country, but capitalises on that to seize them, divert most of the goods, clothing, food stuff, cars, etc. They collect huge sums of money from the traders and then allow them to depart with only a few items, which makes the exploited traders to end up counting their loses and increase the prices of their goods, which they usually pass to the final consumers: the innocent Nigerians. The one with more goods or those not ready to part with huge amount of money, makes the dubious Customs men to invite the press, in other to appear like saints on television and on the pages of newspapers.

In 2007, the Lord sent me to Badagry Local Government Area and Seme for evangelism. I saw a lot. In fact, the activities of these men leave much to be desired. They shamelessly seize goods and divert most for themselves, and resell some to the unsuspecting public, leaving the rightful owners depressed, mourning their huge financial loss A man I met at Seme narrated his ugly experience in their hands. He said he had the chance of travelling into the country with few passengers, among whom he got friendly with a guy coming into the country with much goods and cash. They exchanged pleasantries and the man gave him a card. To cut a long story short, our Customs men stopped their vehicle and ordered this fellow to step down. A man called on the guy that their oga (boss) was calling him. Both men entered the bus. After a while, they off loaded the man’s goods and told them to drive off.

On getting home, he called the guys number, the line was not going. He now traced the address only to discover the guy did not reach his home. Being the type who hates injustice and wickedness, he alerted the police. And on reaching the place, they searched. What they saw was the decomposed body of the man. He said, the press was told. The innocent man died because he ran into throaty, greedy and godless set of Nigerians in Customs. It is a shame indeed. The innocent man died for no just cause. To aid their nefarious activities, they recruit unemployed boys and in some cases men of dubious character to work for them, especially at night. In 2014, I wrote about how I was coming from Badagry and we got to where the Customs stopped many buses. They were carrying many bags of rice, turkey, etc. into a building across the bus-stop. They stopped my bus too, and in it a young woman was held with some rice and turkey. Despite the fact that the poor lady pleaded persistently that it was for eating, they insisted she must part with half or lose all. I also joined the other passengers to plead on her behalf because mere looking at her, you know she was suffering. They refused, till they dispossessed her of half the quantity before letting her to go.

The Federal Government should beam its searchlight on this group. The more goods a man brings home to Nigeria, the more danger even to his life. Are these the people checking others when they are acting even worse than criminals?

The cars always advertised for sale, how were they got? Many people are crying because of the customs. Nigerians are suffering because of these greedy men’s activities.

This is my second time of addressing this issue. Nigerians surely has many enemies. The shameful activities of these men must be checked. They are using many illegal routes to enrich themselves to the detriment of the Nigerian people. Money got in an evil way is evil money and such people should know that there are consequences; and that they cannot escape from God’s judgement.

A word is enough for the wise.

•Missionary Lovina Amangala Iburene, whose photo appears alongside this piece, is of The Truth Ministry of Christ Bring The Truth That Frees. She can be reached via 08066350994

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