Customs seizes baggage of pilgrims

On Sunday, October 11, 2015, some 900 pilgrims stormed the offices of Adamawa customs in Ngaoundere. They came to denounce the abuses of the customs of the sector, after the confiscation of 1,300 luggages belonging to the pilgrims returning from Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

According to the pilgrims, a statement of their President was transmitted by Alim Hayatou, the Secretary of State for Health who went to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to comfort them at the request of President of the Republic.

On site, the emissary of Paul Biya gave them assurances that they will not be bothered by customs after returning to the country and they will be welcomed by regional governors, on behalf of the Head of State.

"We found out that after the governor of the North came to welcome us at Garoua, our luggage did not go through customs as promised the minister Hayatou. Here in Tchabal, the Customs had stopped the vehicle carrying our luggage," said Alhaji Modibo, an angry pilgrim.

In the absence of the Head of Adamawa customs, the baggage of pilgrims were locked in the customs store. Multiple attempts to contact the Area Manager and the mobile brigade commander remained fruitless.

As a group, the pilgrims went to the governor of the region of Adamawa to denounce the abuse by the customs, but they were not successful.