n 2015, the Nigerian Government placed a ban on the importation of rice through land borders and imposed a hefty 70% tariff on imports coming through the ports. However, despite these restrictions, numerous incidents of smuggling and seizures of this contraband by the Nigerian Customs Service have been reported. In this investigation, SALIHU, Ayatullahi uncovers the existence of an illegal border route in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara State, where about 250 smugglers collaborate with security operatives to smuggle an average of 5,000 bags of 50kg rice into Nigeria on a daily basis. Despite several other reported cases, the operation along this route remains clandestine, known only to the smugglers, corrupt security officials and local residents.

The day was Monday, and the early morning sky was shrouded in a thick blanket of gray clouds. Raindrops fell steadily, creating a rhythmic symphony as they danced upon the borderlands between Kenu, Nigeria and Kabo, Benin Republic. It was a fitting backdrop for any daring adventure.

Hundreds of motorcycles roared to life in Kenu, their engines reverberating through the air. Their riders aged between 16 to 25, with a shared purpose burning in their eyes, set off with determined speed. They all shared a single mission: to smuggle rice into Nigeria from neighbouring Benin Republic.

They are part of a secret network of smugglers—spread across communities in Baruteen Local Government areas—who embarked on this lucrative yet illegal journey. They knew that in Benin Republic, rice was available at a significantly cheaper price compared to the rates in Nigeria.

 

As the motorcycles sped through the terrain, their riders blended into the backdrop of the bustling border region. Their intentions were concealed, their faces masked with determination and secrecy. They knew every turn, every hidden shortcut, and every secret crossing along this route.

“Most of these people are originally farmers who have found a means to an end from the thriving illegal smuggling of rice.

“Their journey is a race against time, driven by the urgency to transport the rice and make a return for another one. A smuggler could go as many times as possible – an average of three per day,” Ibrahim Abdullahi, a spirited local who had agreed to take The Informant247 Investigative Unit through the smugglers’ journey, said.

 

 

“Some of them, like a neighbour of mine, have built houses and bought a car. As a matter of fact, they also marry as many wives as they so wish from the proceeds of their illegal trade,” he added.

In 2015, the Nigerian Government placed a ban on 41 imported items (rice included), from accessing foreign exchange from the official window. Also, the government banned the importation of rice through land borders and kept a hefty 70% tariff on imports coming through ports.

Two years later, the Buhari-led administration took a step further, as the President stated in his new year message that “Rice imports will stop” that year. In January 2018, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) confirmed that the CBN stopped issuing Form ‘M’ to importers for importation of rice. Form ‘M’ is a mandatory statutory document to be completed by all importers for importation of goods into Nigeria.

These actions were taken in a bid to discourage importation and encourage local production, especially given that over dependence on importation affects the country’s economic stability.

However, despite the government’s efforts to clamp down on these illegal importations, smugglers from across Baruteen still find a way to illegally import rice.

Similar language, culture aid illegal importation in Baruteen

Kabo, like Nikki and a few other places in Benin Republic, speaks Baruba. The proximity between communities in Baruteen, Nigeria, and the Benin Republic has, over the years, occasioned the unrestricted flow of the Beninese in and out of Nigeria. Not only that some of the border towns share the same culture and language, they have also established a cross-country marriage with each other, hence they share an age-long relationship.

Just as the sun emerged from behind the dissipating rain clouds, casting a beautiful glow on earth, we arrived at Kabo in Benin Republic on Abdullahi’s bike.

We had observed during the journey the porosity of the route from Kenu in Nigeria to Kabo in Benin Republic, which is just about 11.2 km. Despite the presence of immigration, customs, and other security officials, it was easy for anyone to move in and out of Nigeria through this illegal route.

 

 

At Kabo, we gathered that the smugglers had developed a network of trusted suppliers over time, enabling them to secure the rice at the cheapest price.

In dimly lit stalls and makeshift shops, we observed, negotiations ensued. They haggled fiercely with the sellers, their voices blending with the cacophony of the market. Sacks of rice, stacked high and labelled with foreign markings, were the currency of their trade.

Once the transactions were completed, the smugglers wasted no time. The bags of rice will be swiftly loaded onto the motorcycles, carefully covered, taped, and balanced to ensure a smooth ride back to Nigeria.

 

 

“At least, each motorcycle carries an average of 6 to 8 50kg bags of rice per trip. As we have been counting, you must have noticed that we have come across no fewer than 200 motorcycles going to or coming from Kabo. About 300 of them work on this route every day,” Abdullahi said. “The negotiated prices of the rice range between N18,000 to N20,000 per bag and the sellers take payment in Nigerian Naira. It is easy to negotiate because we speak the same language and share the same culture. We are a people in two countries.”