Hon. Tony Iju-Nwabunike
National President, ANLCA

National President of the  National Association of Nigeria License Customs Agent (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike,  has expressed gratitude to maritime stakeholders for their solidarity when its national secretariat was attacked by hoodlums even as vow to continue working for the good of all members of the Association.

The ugly incident took place on October 6, 2020 when suspected hoodlums numbering over 40 invaded the National Secretariat of the association with guns, machetes and charms.

In a press statement he personally signed,  Nwabunike stated that the gestapo style invasion took everyone at the secretariat unawares resulting to robbery, looting and wanton destruction of the association’s properties.

The Invaders also resorted to manhunt for the National President,   and other members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM) with the aim to harm them.

The statement also have it that, happily 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.

“It was obvious the attackers were out to sniff life out of the NECOM members  which On sighting the police, most of them fled while 9 members of the gang were arrested with their  guns, charms and other harmful objects.

In their struggle  and resistance against lawful arrest according to a statement made available through the office of the president,  the hoodlums injured a police officer, Sergeant Abadariki F. who was hospitalised after the incident.

The ANLCA boss stated that “As a law abiding organisation, 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”

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

“The NECOM 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 they are following the process as the law takes its course

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

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 organised Customs Brokers organisation 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 the  secretariat and their sponsors are made to face full wrath of the law.

According to him, ‘Our association under my watch will continue to carry out our legitimate duties as enshrined in the ANLCA Supreme Constitution and we call on all our members across the country to go about their normal businesses without fear, intimidation or allowing themselves to be incited against the legitimate leadership of the association.

“We want also use this medium to inform the various Chapters of ANLCA to prepare for their respective election of Chapter Executives as their constitutional rights guaranteed in the ANLCA Supreme Constitution and to disregard any empty threats from those individuals who don’t mean well for the association.

“I want to assure all our members that this NECOM under my headship will continue to negotiate and fight for the rights of members so that they will keep carrying out their businesses without any form of threat and intimidation”

“Many thanks to our friends and members of the public for their prayers, support and good wishes through this impasse” Nwabunike said.