Feyisayo Ogunbiyi
The Nigeria Customs Service and community leaders in Ogun State have dismissed as false and baseless a viral report claiming that 28 people died after consuming poisoned rice allegedly cursed by a smuggler whose goods were seized at the Seme border.
In the past week, audio and video messages have circulated on social media, alleging that a suspected rice smuggler resorted to spiritual means to place a deadly curse on bags of rice confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The viral content claimed that the supposed spiritual attack led to the deaths of unsuspecting consumers, including a soldier, in Badagry, Lagos State, with the scare spreading to Idi-Iroko and other parts of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
But authorities and community leaders have described the rumour as a dangerous piece of fiction meant to instil fear and incite panic among the public.
Reacting to the reports, the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Seme Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, in a press statement titled False Allegation of Multiple Deaths Linked to Alleged Poisoned Rice Released by Customs at Seme Border, said the claims were completely unfounded and did not reflect any operational reality.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter,” the statement read in part.
“We have always adhered strictly to the NCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the handling and disposal of seized goods, guided by transparency, due process, and extant laws.”
Sulaiman warned against spreading misinformation, accusing some individuals of hiding under the guise of journalism to peddle malicious falsehoods.
“Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements wearing the garment of journalism… disinform the public with fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points,” he added.
He affirmed that there has been no record of deaths within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) linked to any distributed or seized rice, and urged the public to disregard the rumour.
Similarly, the Youth Leader of Ipokia Local Government Area, Comrade Imoleayo Mawunti, condemned the claims as a product of superstition and urged residents not to panic or engage in unnecessary fear-mongering.
“In the actual sense of it, we only received a voice note via social media alleging that the owner of two trucks of seized rice consulted a herbalist to place a curse on anyone who eats, sells or handles the rice,” Mawunti said.
“But let’s be honest — in our culture, we often attribute random events to superstition. People die daily, and without autopsy reports or proper medical investigations,
“it’s wrong to draw such conclusions. As far as we know, no one in Idi-Iroko or nearby communities has died from eating poisoned rice.”
He urged Nigerians to apply reason and not allow unverified social media content to dictate their choices or fuel panic.
“Let us use our sense. There is nothing like cursed rice in Idi-Iroko and its environs,” he said.
Members of the public are advised to verify information through official channels and avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumours that may cause public alarm or damage the reputation of national institutions.
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