The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has recorded major successes in its fight against smuggling, intercepting contraband goods valued at over ₦98.3 million.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller M.A. Tako, made this known during a press conference held at the Customs House in Yola.

He said the seizures were made within six weeks through intelligence-driven operations across Adamawa and Taraba States.

Items intercepted include large quantities of petroleum products, second-hand clothing, donkey skins and meat, as well as unregistered pharmaceutical products.

According to the Controller, on February 26, operatives seized 43 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, alongside cartons and packages of Viagra tablets along the Savannah–Numan axis.

In another operation on March 12, officers intercepted 509 raw donkey skins and 460 kilograms of dried donkey meat along the Mubi–Sangere route.

The Command also recorded multiple seizures of Premium Motor Spirit and Automotive Gas Oil across major smuggling routes, including Likitaba–Gembu, Mubi–Sahuda, Mahia–Belel, and Toungo–Ganye axes.

In total, 1,288 jerry cans and three drums of PMS, estimated at about 32,860 litres, as well as 2,800 litres of AGO, were confiscated.

Comptroller Tako emphasized that the operations were carried out in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, aimed at preventing illegal trade and safeguarding the nation’s economy.

He warned that smuggling of petroleum products, wildlife items, and unregistered drugs poses serious threats to national security, public health, and economic stability.

The Controller also urged smugglers to abandon illegal activities and engage in legitimate business.

He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership, and appreciated the support of other security agencies and the media.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown on smuggling and ensuring compliance with trade regulations.

Troops of 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation WUTAN DAJI have recorded a significant operational success following a coordinated clearance operation in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State.

The offensive offensive operation dealt a major setback to bandit networks operating within the area. Troops successfully cleared multiple bandit enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps within the Kumbodoro Forest axis.

Supported by the Air Component, the troops neutralised several bandits and dismantled key operational bases, further degrading the criminals’ capability to threaten lives and property of citizens.

The operation led to rescue of eight kidnapped victims. A thorough search of the bandits enclave led to the recovery of cache of arms and equipment, including 4 skeletal rifles, 4 dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, as well as communication devices and other operational items.

Other recovered items include 2 pairs of boots, 3 helmets, one power bank, one StarTimes decoder, QJC meta links, one jackknife, 6 mobile handsets, arrows, radio chargers, OPAY ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.

Relatedly, troops deployed at Duguri while acting on credible intelligence, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village in collaboration with local vigilantes.

The livestock are believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits due to sustained military pressure. Efforts are ongoing to identify and return the animals to their rightful owners.

The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to restore peace and stability across all theatres of operation, leveraging intelligence-driven operations, joint force synergy and strategic partnerships to deny bandits and terrorists any safe haven.

At least dozens of traders and buyers were killed on Saturday evening when a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet reportedly struck Jilli Market in the Fucchimiram Ward of Geidam Local Government Area, near the border with Borno State.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as a tragedy, with unconfirmed reports suggesting the death toll could exceed 200. Bodies were said to be scattered in nearby bushes, while survivors and the injured were evacuated to medical facilities in Damaturu, Geidam General Hospital, and parts of Borno State. Some accounts put the confirmed fatalities at over 50, with at least 14 others hospitalised.

According to preliminary reports, the airstrike occurred as a military jet was pursuing suspected Boko Haram insurgents who had moved into the market area, possibly to collect levies from residents. The strike appears to have missed its intended target, hitting civilians instead.

Jilli is a border community close to Damasak in Borno State, located more than 200 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The market serves residents from both Yobe and Borno states.As of Sunday, the Nigeria Air Force had not issued an official confirmation or statement on the incident. Emergency response efforts are underway, with local leaders, including the councillor of Jilli Ward, urging residents to donate blood and other essentials to assist victims.

The exact casualty figures remain unclear pending official verification, as access to the remote area is limited and investigations are expected to provide more details in the coming days.

This incident adds to a series of reported accidental civilian casualties linked to counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, where the military continues operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.

Authorities have in past similar cases directed hospitals to provide free treatment to the wounded.