Again, Wharf Rats ravage containers at Tincan port

Segun Oladipupo

The case of container pilfering in the port is taking another dimension as the menace increases especially at the Tincan Island Port complex in Lagos.

Another case of vandalism by suspected robbers also known as wharf rats have again taken place at the Hannover terminal in Tincan as multiple containers were allegedly vandalised during the week.

Investigations showed that the containers were vandalised at Hannover Terminal in the early hours of last Wednesday .

Findings also revealed that the unconfirmed number of boxes affected were originally imported into Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) before being transferred to the said terminal.

It was also gathered that suspected thieves stormed the facility at night, carting away valuable items worth millions of naira from the boxes.

Multiple sources confirmed to our correspondent that the affected containers were sealed up from the mother terminal, (TICT) but at Hanover, the seals were broken.

They also alleged that items of workers like shoes and overall (shirts) were discovered in some of the affected boxes.

According to them, the alarming rate of cargo vandals at the Lagos ports is becoming menacing to international trade thus the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Shippers’ Council need to fashion out modalities to curb the malady.

Recall that similar incident occurred at one of the terminals at Tin Can Island Port recently where at least four vehicles were vandalised .

Also, equipment belonging to the Nigerian Air force (NAF), were also stolen by the suspected Wharf rats.

Meanwhile in an exclusive chat with the Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, he called on port security personnel to beef up security at their respective facilities, saying that the rising cases of activities of suspected Wharf rats would hinder trade facilitation.

Though, he noted that the Service had not been officially briefed about the development, he admitted that it is a bad development which should be nipped in the bud.

“Though we did not get any official report about the issue, the terminal operators should beef up security at their terminals to make sure that such case do not happen again.

“We have not been officially contacted, we also read it in the papers just like any other person,” he said.