Ebonyi Neighbourhood Watch Impounds Two-Trailer Load of Rice
In a bid to ensure that rice produced in the state continues to enjoy monopoly, Ebonyi state government has impounded two trailer load of rice.
The Commissioner of Internal Security and Border Peaceenjo, Mr Stanley Emegha told newsmen that the grain products were intercepted at the Afikpo Beach, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state .
Emegha who the rice have been moved to Abakaliki, the state capital added that the owners of the products concealed them with empty cartons of beer to beat the eagle eye of security men.
He also disclosed that four persons were arrested in connection with the two trailers of rice.
According to him, the smugglers had come in through Afikpo River, which connects Ebonyi/Cross River states to Cameroon.
He raised alarm that there was the possibility of smuggling arms into the state through the same route.
He told newsmen, “Some people may not be seeing the security implication of importing rice into the state. The implication is that some people use this avenue to smuggle in arms. If you watch, they go by night and when you search the things in the truck, you will discover arms hidden under the bags of foreign rice.
“Hoodlums cannot operate without arms, and they carry more sophisticated weapons compared to what our security men have. Most of these arms and ammunition in circulation across the country were smuggled in through this means.”
Ebonyi state government had years ago banned foreign rice from the state.
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