By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to combat the smuggling of vegetable oil into the country, with plans to launch intelligence-driven special operations aimed at protecting local investments, preserving jobs, and supporting the growth of the agricultural value chain.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday, 5 June 2026, during a meeting with stakeholders in the vegetable oil industry at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

Adeniyi said the Service remains committed to tackling smuggling through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering, and stakeholder collaboration.

He noted that Customs and operators in the vegetable oil sector share a common objective of protecting legitimate businesses, encouraging investment, and strengthening the national economy.

CGC Adeniyi explained that addressing smuggling requires sustained cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, particularly in sectors that contribute significantly to employment generation and economic development.

He also called on stakeholders to support enforcement efforts by providing credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illicit trade activities.

“Fighting smuggling is a continuous process that requires intelligence, policy support and collaboration. We value constructive engagement with stakeholders and will continue to strengthen our partnership with the private sector,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, highlighted the Service’s achievements in curbing the illegal importation of vegetable oil products.

Bomodi disclosed that Customs recorded several seizures across key border corridors and assured stakeholders that surveillance would be intensified in vulnerable locations.

“We recorded about 65 seizures of vegetable oil products in 2025 and another 23 seizures in 2026, with a combined Duty Paid Value of approximately N1.314 billion,” he said.

He noted that many of the seizures were made along major smuggling corridors, including Seme and Idiroko, adding that surveillance would also be strengthened in other identified vulnerable locations.

Leading the industry delegation, the Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, Dr Fatai Afolabi, commended the Service for creating a platform for dialogue while drawing attention to the need to clamp down on vegetable oil smuggling into the country.

“Smuggling of vegetable oil will undermining local production, discouraging investment and threatening thousands of jobs across the value chain,” Afolabi stated.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Odo-Ere, the headquarters of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, came under attack from armed bandits, resulting in the death of a Civil Defence officer and the abduction of his daughter.

According to sources, the victim, identified as Ayo, a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was shot in the head during the attack.

A source confirmed that Mr. Ayo was rushed to a medical facility but was declared dead on arrival.

His remains have since been deposited in a mortuary as a “Brought-In-Dead” case.

The attackers reportedly abducted his first daughter before fleeing the area, further deepening fears among residents following the latest security breach in the community.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The attack has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity in Yagba West and surrounding communities, with residents calling for urgent intervention by security authorities.

Two crew members of a US army helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday were rescued by an American sea drone, US officials have said.

It was the first such operation carried out by US forces, the officials added.

US Central Command (Centcom) earlier said the two “soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition” after their AH-64 Apache helicopter went down “near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters”.

It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft had developed a mechanical or any other technical problem, or had been downed by Iranian fire. The incident is being investigated.

In its statement on Tuesday, Centcom said the two crew members had been rescued at 19:33 EDT (23:33 GMT) on Monday.

“Rescue efforts were led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from US Air Force and Navy units including US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59,” the statement added.

The military officials said the pair had been rescued by an uncrewed surface drone that was operated by Task Force 59.

In 2024, Task Force 59 launched a new unit focusing on “the operational deployment of unmanned systems teamed with manned operators to bolster maritime security across the Middle East region”.

It was not immediately clear what type of drone was used in the rescue operation, but a US official said that it had a speed boat-like design.

US President Donald Trump earlier told reporters the two crew members were “fine”, and that a report into the incident would be issued later.