“Half-Truths and Fabrications: Exposing the Flaws in Fisayo Soyombo’s Smuggling Narrative Against Nigerian Customs and IBD Dende”

“Half a truth is often a great lie.” – Benjamin Franklin

Fisayo Soyombo has built a reputation as an investigative journalist. However, his continuous use of half-truths and sensational narratives has eroded his credibility. His latest smuggling report is riddled with contradictions that demand a fact-based response.

Soyombo’s Adja-Quere Rice Smuggling Claim: Fact or Fiction?

Soyombo claimed he personally smuggled 100 bags of rice from Adja-Quere, Benin Republic into Nigeria.

• The Reality: Adja-Quere has only two small retail rice shops, not “tens of thousands of bags” as he described.

• The Logic Gap: No Nigerian businessman would set out from Oja-Odan or Ohunbe to buy rice at a retail-priced, logistically inconvenient town like Adja-Quere.

Conclusion: His narrative does not align with the realities of rice trading in that region.

Why Soyombo’s Smuggling Report Is Baseless

If his undercover trip is the foundation of his serial reports, then the entire project is flawed. AtotoDaily challenges Soyombo to provide verifiable evidence of his so-called smuggling journey.

Contradictions Noted:

• He alleged Customs officers freely allow contraband, yet there are numerous cases of officers being killed while intercepting smugglers.

• He positioned himself as an eyewitness but failed to provide verifiable proof.

The Realities of Borderline Smuggling in Nigeria

Smuggling: A Global Phenomenon

Smuggling is a transnational issue that governments worldwide struggle to curb. Total eradication is impossible, which is why Nigerian Customs is tasked with minimizing it.

Informal Traders and Border Communities

• Many small-scale traders along border towns engage in informal trading.

• Customs balances legitimate trade facilitation with illicit trade deterrence.

• This delicate balance is often ignored in Soyombo’s one-sided reports.

The Hazards Nigerian Customs Officers Face

Violence Against Officers

• Officers have been ambushed, maimed, and killed along Ogun and Oyo border routes.

• Cases abound where smugglers mobilized to burn checkpoints or attack patrols.

Diabolic Tactics by Smugglers

• Reports show smugglers using charms to confuse or incapacitate officers.

• Some officers have been struck with strange illnesses or even death while on duty.

Key Point: These realities contradict Soyombo’s portrayal of Customs as freely permitting smuggling.

The Role of Licensed Customs Agents and Stakeholders

Who Are the Stakeholders?

Customs licensed agents facilitate legitimate trade and ensure duties are paid. Without them, government revenue generation would plummet.

IBD Dende: A Leading Customs Licensed Agent

Chief Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun (IBD Dende) is a respected licensed agent who:

• Acts as a bridge between importers and Nigerian Customs.

• Assists in trade facilitation and revenue generation.

• Supports compliance with government regulations.

Soyombo’s continuous attacks on IBD Dende ignore his contributions to Nigeria’s economic stability.

Why Soyombo’s Reports Amount to Character Assassination

• He alleges Customs officers themselves smuggle arms and drugs without proof.

• He recycles pictures and videos out of context to mislead audiences.

• His narratives often appear scripted and bankrolled by hidden interests.

Bottom Line: His work leans more toward propaganda and defamation than responsible investigative journalism.

Conclusion: The Dangers of Half-Truth Journalism

Fisayo Soyombo’s smuggling story is a mixture of exaggerations, fabrications, and selective narratives. By crucifying the Nigerian Customs Service and stakeholders like IBD Dende, he undermines national security efforts and disrespects officers who have paid the ultimate price.

AtotoDaily will continue fact-checking Soyombo’s half-truths in subsequent reports. Watch out!