In a bid to combat small arms and light weapons smuggling into the country, the Kwara State Customs command has solicited the assistance of traditional rulers in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara North Senatorial District.

The Customs Area Comptroller, H.B. Ahmed made the appeal while speaking during a sensitisation visit to the palace of District of Bukura, in Baruten Local Government Area of the State.

He acknowledged the critical role traditional rulers and institutions could play, especially in the areas of sensitisation and enlightenment of their subjects, critical stakeholders and the society at large in the concerted effort to curtail the menace of smuggling across the borders.

Ahmed pleaded that the enlightenment campaign on smuggling activities should be intensified “as most of those who engage in smuggling never see it as a crime.”

According to him, “we cannot rest on our oars, particularly at this critical time of our national life as the myriad of irregular migration and trans-border crimes, such as smuggling of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, drugs trafficking and terrorism among others are on the rise and must be tackled headlong.”

Responding, the District head of Bukura, Malam Aliyu Issa Woru sought a synergy with the Nigeria Customs Service in sensitising his community and pledged to do the needful in supporting the agency to succeed in its assignment.

The Customs Area Comptroller also visited other security agencies in the area, including Benin Republic Customs, Nigeria immigration Service, the police force and the Joint Border Patrol Team, among others, emphasising the need for synergy and collaboration as no agency could operate in isolation and succeed without the support of others.