The Nigerian Army seized vehicles purportedly transporting forbidden items to the Republic of Cameroon.
The trucks, each carrying 600 50kg bags of cement, were exhibited to journalists on Friday at the Nigeria Police headquarters in Yola, Adamawa State’s capital.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri issued an Executive Order prohibiting the shipment of building materials across the country’s border via Adamawa routes.
Humwashi Wonosikou, the governor’s spokeswoman, and SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Adamawa State Police Command spokesperson, told journalists that the trucks were intercepted a few kilometers before Jamtari, a border village between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Wonosikou said,
“We’re here to address a disturbing trend in the state. As if the hardship on the people is not enough there are some people who would want to test the will of the government and the government is saying such actions are unacceptable.
“You can see behind me are trucks that were apprehended and brought here. They were intercepted by the military.
“And it is believed that these products are being transported out of the country, because if you look at it, where is the community at the border area in Adamawa State that requires this amount of cement to be used?”
On his part, Nguroje said, “Personnel have been deployed throughout the state to enforce the government order, banning transportation of building materials across the border.”
However, a drama ensued when one Abiola Oyetunji, identified on the waybill as the contact person, expressed surprise that the truck had left the company’s depot in Yola.
She said that the trucks could only leave the depot after the goods have been sold.
“I’ve not sold the cement yet. How could the truck have moved out of the depot in Yola? The driver told me he was at the depot up to this time,” she added.