Customs CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Raises Alarm Over ISWAP Arms Smuggling, Calls for Urgent Border Security at Babanna, Niger State

Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has raised a high-level security alert following confirmed intelligence reports indicating increased Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activity near the Babanna border area in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. Adewale Adeniyi, while addressing a high-level security stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, revealed that credible surveillance and field reports pointed to an unusual concentration of armed elements suspected to be ISWAP operatives operating dangerously close to Nigeria’s northwestern frontiers.

According to the CG, the insurgents are exploiting the porous terrain and limited military presence in the region to establish temporary logistical bases, plan attacks, and smuggle weapons and illicit goods across the Nigeria-Benin border. He emphasized that the Babanna axis, known for its relatively calm status in the past, is now emerging as a new hotspot for insurgent activities, which poses a grave risk to national security, trade, and border communities.

Cross-Border Smuggling and Insurgent Financing Uncovered

Adewale Adeniyi disclosed that the Customs Intelligence Unit had intercepted multiple illicit consignments, including arms components, drone parts, and explosive precursors linked to insurgent supply chains. These were traced back to smuggling syndicates collaborating with ISWAP cells, using commercial trucks and disguised shipments through unofficial border routes around Babanna and Kaima.

He stated that the Customs Service is now working closely with the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and international partners to map out the insurgents’ logistics networks. The CG noted that the insurgents were not only moving weapons but also smuggling petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, and contraband to finance their operations, revealing a complex web of transnational criminality tied to terrorism financing.

Adewale Adeniyi Calls for Immediate Border Reinforcement

Raising the urgency of the matter, Adewale Adeniyi called for the immediate deployment of additional security forces to the Babanna corridor, alongside enhanced surveillance infrastructure. He argued that traditional border patrol methods are insufficient to counter the sophisticated tactics employed by insurgent groups and smugglers in the region.

He proposed the establishment of a joint border task force involving the Customs, Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Army to bolster presence and rapid response capabilities. Adewale Adeniyi emphasized that proactive collaboration across security agencies and border communities is essential to disrupt insurgent encampments and restore stability to the area.

Local Communities Urged to Collaborate with Security Agencies

Customs CG Adeniyi appealed to local residents and traditional leaders in Babanna and surrounding villages to serve as the first line of defense by reporting suspicious movements and strange faces in their communities. He reassured them of the federal government’s commitment to protecting civilians and providing security support to prevent further infiltration.

He emphasized that effective counter-insurgency operations require grassroots intelligence, and the Customs Service is ready to work hand-in-hand with vigilante groups and community-based organizations to close surveillance gaps. Adeniyi added that ongoing outreach programs would also help sensitize locals on the dangers of aiding insurgents, whether knowingly or unknowingly, through economic or logistical support.

National Security Implications of ISWAP Movement in North Central

Adeniyi warned that ISWAP’s expansion into North Central Nigeria signifies a dangerous evolution of insurgency tactics, moving beyond the traditional strongholds in the Northeast. He said this development poses a strategic threat to national cohesion, trade routes, and food supply chains that pass through Niger State to major parts of the country.

He stated that the infiltration of ISWAP into Babanna may be aimed at creating new fronts to stretch Nigeria’s security apparatus and destabilize the relatively peaceful central regions. Adeniyi stressed that the government must not underestimate the implications of such a shift, especially as the group seeks to gain foothold in border territories and exploit weak governance systems.

Advanced Surveillance Technologies and International Support Needed

To contain the growing menace, Adewale Adeniyi advocated for investment in advanced surveillance technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), satellite imaging, and AI-driven tracking systems for cargo and personnel. He lamented that despite Customs’ ongoing efforts, outdated infrastructure limits effective monitoring of vast border landscapes like Babanna.

He called on Nigeria’s international allies, particularly those in West Africa and the Sahel region, to support joint border management initiatives and intelligence sharing frameworks. Adeniyi concluded that countering ISWAP’s infiltration near Babanna requires a fusion of technology, intelligence, community involvement, and swift political will to protect the nation’s sovereignty and economic stability.