The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday said that hostile border communities were posing fresh threat to efforts to check smuggling at the borders.

Mr Victor Dimka, Acting Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit of Nigeria Customs Service in Zone A, disclosed this at the ongoing seminar on Challenges of Border Control in Topo, Badagry.

The two-day seminar was organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).

Dimka alleged that some border communities were shielding smugglers from being arrested by security agencies.

Dimka, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller of the unit, Mr Ahmed Isyaku, said that villagers, in connivance with smugglers, often organised violent attacks on officers and men of the customs.

He said that the attacks were sometimes deadly when the villagers and smugglers used sophisticated weapons on his men.

Dimka said that the service would soon take delivery of new weapons to counter such attacks.

“This is because some of the smugglers have better weapons compared to that of the service.

“With the current management of customs, some of the challenges in border patrol would be history,’’ Dimka said.

MARAN President, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, urged security agencies to protect the integrity of the nation by tightening security at all the entry points.

He said inadequate security at the nation’s gateways could result to huge revenue losses since fraudulent importers and smugglers would continue to operate unchecked.

Ajayi said the seizure of arms and ammunitions at the Apapa Port in 2010 was enough reason for government to take the issue of security at entry points more seriously.

He advised that security agencies at the ports and the border posts should work harmoniously and avoid conflict of interests.

Ajayi suggested that the security agencies should be well remunerated, well equipped and trained.