No fewer than 57,370 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) have been seized by the Nigeria Customs Service in Adamawa and Taraba states.

The seizure is part of the NCS’s renewed war against smuggling activities in the North-East, under an operation called Operation Whirlwind.

Addressing journalists on Friday in Yola, Adamawa State, the National Coordinator of the operation, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Hussain Ejibunu, stated that the seizures resulted from modern technology introduced into the service by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Bashir.

He noted that the smuggling of PMS remained a significant challenge, driven by economic disparities and the lure of quick profits.

Ejibunu said, “In Gembu, Taraba State, a seizure of 1,149 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, containing 30 litres each, was made—amounting to a total volume of 34,470 litres.

Earlier this month, our dedicated officers intercepted and seized 916 jerrycans of PMS, each containing 25 litres, yielding a total volume of 22,900 litres at the flashpoints of Maiha, Mubi, Gurin, and Belel in Adamawa State.

“This operation was intelligence-driven and executed with precision, reflecting the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to safeguarding our nation’s resources and ensuring compliance with the law.”

The Customs boss disclosed that the seized items, with an estimated Duty Paid Value of N22,900,000, were being transported through unauthorised routes for illicit trade, which undermines Nigeria’s economy and security.

“This interception is not just a victory for the Nigeria Customs Service but also a testament to the effectiveness and collaborative support of the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies,” he stated.

Ejibunu assured that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to adapt and innovate in its fight against smuggling, leveraging technology, intelligence, and collaboration to stay ahead of criminal elements.

A high-speed auto crash involving a commercial bus has claimed multiple lives along the Abuja-Makurdi Highway.

The commercial bus belongs to Flight Transport Company.

The accident occurred on Thursday, leaving several dead and many others injured.

DAILY POST sighted a video of the incident showing the lifeless bodies of some passengers sprawled across the road as bystanders wailed in distress.

Many of the victims, including men and women, lay motionless on the road.

A witness in the video could be heard lamenting about the reckless speed of the bus driver before the tragic accident occurred.

“When this driver overtook us, I was complaining about his speed. This Flight Bus, I was complaining. Just look at it. I was complaining about the speed of this very driver,” the narrator in the video said.

The crash has sparked fresh outrage among road users and concerned citizens, with many taking to social media to condemn the continuous recklessness of some bus drivers.

Nine days after he was kidnapped, the Catholic Priest of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ivukwa, in the Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Peter Ekweli, has been released by his abductors.

But the fate of the seminarian who was abducted with him, Peter Andrew, remained unknown.

A viral video on Thursday showed a kidnap victim, surrounded by uniformed men believed to be vigilantes, claiming that he was kidnapped and put in the same location with the priest and seminarian.

The victim said they were all forced to close their eyes, and in the process, they heard a gunshot.

Then, they were told to open their eyes, and they saw the seminarian battling for his life before he died.

He said they trekked to a place in Edo Central from where he escaped.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, claimed that the priest had been rescued by the police and that the police would soon come up with an official statement.

According to a source, the Catholic Church will also issue a statement on Friday about the priest’s release.