…National President describes development as a huge surprise***
11 of the vital documents burnt and the windows shattered by thugs who attacked the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) Secretariat, in Lagos yesterday.
The days of doors breaking, window-smashing and free for all with dangerous weapons may be back for the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) as men, wearing association vests and believed to be members, swooped on the National Secretariat, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, to allegedly effect some ‘Court order’, on Tuesday.
The Maritime First learnt that a crack team of Nigeria Police operatives urgently drafted there, from Festac Division to restore law and order, arrested about 11 persons, out of a crowd of 30, allegedly armed with an AK47, four Pump action rifle, a pistol, cutlasses and sticks.
The thugs were also said to have been caught with photocopies of Newspaper advert purported to have been made by the five-member Board of Trustees (BOT) of the ANLCA, accusing the National President, Hon. Tony Nwabunike and his NECOM members of flagrant disobedience of a Federal High Court Order, to stop parading themselves as National officers of the Association.
It was further learnt that the irate members on arrival at the Secretariat, ordered the staff out, before proceeding to search for some documents, some of which they found and publicly set ablaze.
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The Group President, Tony Iju Nwabunike in a reaction to the media, however, described the development as a big surprise, stressing his strong belief that the police were in better position to speak on it, as their investigation would unmask the masterminds and their motive.
Stakeholders and industry watchers, however, said they were not surprised, highlighting that open and hidden rancour had eaten up the fabrics of ANLCA’s unity.
The stakeholders noted the different reasons that took some members to courts and the various injunctions and judgements obtained, some of which swept the rug off the feet of the present management; and the disenchantment that grew from it.
“The association has never been this divided. They dissipate energy fighting themselves. As a keen industry watcher, one should not be surprised. only that the number guns said to have been utilised appear truly amazing”, observed a respondent, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The police investigation has begun in earnest.
