The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted $193,000 in undeclared foreign currency concealed in a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The interception on Thursday, 20th March 2025, resulted from credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.

Addressing journalists at the airport’s international wing, the Customs area controller, Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, disclosed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina (40 years old), arrived in Nigeria onboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Acting on intelligence received earlier in the day, Customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed funds.

“Around the early hours of today, we received an intelligence report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon, one Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found concealing a total sum of $193,000 inside a carton of yoghurt,” Adebisi said.

He noted that the undeclared cash violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that any traveller in possession of funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiable instruments must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service upon arrival or departure.

“The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both,” Adebisi explained.

Providing further details on how Customs officers uncovered the smuggled cash, Adebisi noted that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.

“When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina’s luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage.

“Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared money hidden inside the yoghurt carton,” he said.

Following the seizure, the intercepted $193,000 was formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action.

“All travellers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when travelling in or out of the country.”

“The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,” he added.

A man, Mamman Shettima Baba, has been arrested for violently assaulting a young schoolgirl who plucked mangoes from a compound in Pompomari Housing Estate, Maiduguri.

The attack, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, showed Shettima Baba mercilessly flogging the girl with a thick stick while his wife recorded the scene, encouraging him to continue.

Eyewitnesses reported that the girl and her friends, on their way home from school, entered a compound with an open gate to pick mangoes. Some Almajiri children caught one of the girls and handed her over to the woman residing there. She then ordered her husband to punish the child, leading to the brutal beating.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) responded swiftly to the viral footage, arresting Shettima Baba. NSCDC Commandant Abdulrazaq Haroon confirmed the arrest, revealing that the suspect admitted to the assault, justifying his actions by claiming that students frequently stole mangoes from his tree.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with legal practitioners, child rights activists, and government officials demanding strict legal action.

Hamza Nuhu Dantani, a legal practitioner, has petitioned the Borno State Commissioner of Police, calling for Shettima Baba’s immediate prosecution. The petition accuses him of assault, criminal intimidation, causing grievous harm, and attempted homicide, citing violations of the Borno State Penal Code Law, 2023. It also demands:

The immediate prosecution of Shettima Baba.

A full investigation to identify and charge any accomplices.

Medical and psychological support for the victim.

A public warning against violence and abuse of minors.

The Borno State Commissioner of Education, Lawan Abbah Wakilbe, and the Commissioner of Justice have assured the public that justice will be served.

Despite legal protections for minors, human rights abuses in Borno State often go unpunished due to political influence and social pressure. Observers are watching closely to see whether this case will lead to real consequences or become another example of impunity.

The Abia State Police Command has disbanded the Command’s Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT unit and the Command’s Special Squad, CSS.

In their place, a newly trained, tactical, and professional unit known as the Scorpion Squad has been established. The squad will be led by SP Ibe Daniel as commander, with DSP Eze Augustine as his second-in-command.

The spokesperson for the command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

She stated that the decision is part of the Abia State Police Command’s administrative and operational measures to ensure compliance with the rule of law and to promote a professional police force in the state, equipped with the necessary skills to combat crime effectively and efficiently, in alignment with the vision of the Inspector General of Police.

She noted that CP Danladi Isa addressed the newly formed Scorpion Squad, emphasising the importance of tact, professionalism, and strict adherence to the rules of engagement. He directed that all operations must be based on actionable intelligence and that officers must adhere strictly to the command’s operational dress code for easy identification and accountability.

“He further warned that any behaviour detrimental to the image of the force will not be tolerated and will be met with appropriate sanctions.

“The CP further charged the Scorpion Squad to take decisive action against violent crimes in Abia State, ensuring that criminal threats are swiftly eliminated and crime is reduced to the barest minimum,” Chinaka concluded.