Nwabunike urges ANLCA chapters to prepare for elections despite in-house crisis.

—-gives update on attack on association’s secretariat

Peter Olaniyi

The National President of the Association of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA), has urged various chapters of the association to prepare for their respective chapters executives elections despite the crisis currently rocking the association.

In a press statement issued by Nwabunike and obtained by our correspondent, the President argued that the election is the constitutional rights of members guaranteed in the ANLCA supreme constitution.

Nwabunike stated that the association under his headship will continue to negotiate and fight for the rights of his members.

The ANLCA President,, who spoke extensively on the recent attack on the association secretariat, disclosed that the police have been able to make arrest of about nine persons in connection to the attack on the building out of alleged 40 who stormed the secretariat to vandalize and destroyed it.

Nwabunike, while revealing that the nine that were apprehended have already been charged to court, further lamented that the plans of the hoodlums was to come and beat up every member of NECOM, including himself.

“But however , we were lucky as many of us were not in office when they launched the attack”

According to him “Following series of media inquiries, genuine concern by members of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and members of the public, we find it imperative to issue a formal update on the attack on our secretariat”

“Recall that suspected hoodlums numbering over 40 invaded the National Secretariat of our association, wielding guns, machetes and charms on 6th October, 2020 at about 9:30am”.

“The gestapo style invasion which took everyone working in the secretariat unaware, resulted in robbery, looting and destruction of the association’s properties while the Invaders searched round for Iju Tony Nwabunike, National President and other members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM)”

“Fortunately, most of the National Officers they wanted to physically attack were not in the building during the raid that lasted for over 30 minutes before the very timely and life-saving intervention of police officers from Festac Police Station”

“On sighting the police, most of them fled while nine members of the gang were arrested with their guns, charms and other harmful objects”

“In their struggle and resistance against lawful arrest, the hoodlums injured a Police Officer, Sergent Abadariki Funsho who was
hospitalized after the indent”

“As a law abiding organization, with a leadership that believes in God, we are grateful to our creator for saving us from an attempt to gruesomely murder us by persons whose desperation has been brought to the fore for all to see”.

“NECOM is further carrying out its own independent investigation to truly ascertain the level of collateral damage to our facilities, with the view to quantifying the destruction done in monetary terms, including cash stolen by the hoodlums.

“Our move for evaluation was stalled by recent protests and curfew that slowed down activities throughout Lagos State and other parts of the country”

“The suspects arrested in connection with the incident have been charged to court and we are following the process as the law takes its course”

“ANLCA as a law abiding institution will refrain from commenting on
the matter which is in court, as doing so will be subjudice”.

“That the leadership of ANLCA under my watch is not and will never be cowed or trapped in the shenanigans of disgruntled elements who are bent on destroying the oldest and most organized Customs brokers
organization in Nigeria.

“As such,the NECOM is not leaving any stone unturned as it has petitioned relevant government security agencies to ensure that those criminally minded elements who carried out the mayhem on our secretariat and their sponsors are made to face full wrath of the law”