Authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) alongside key community leaders in Ogun State have strongly refuted widespread rumours claiming that 28 individuals lost their lives after consuming poisoned rice allegedly linked to a spiritual curse placed by a disgruntled smuggler. They described the circulating narrative as entirely baseless, misleading, and designed to provoke fear and panic among the public.
In recent days, audio clips and videos have gone viral on social media platforms, alleging that a rice smuggler—whose consignment was seized by Customs operatives at the Seme border—had allegedly resorted to spiritual means, cursing the confiscated rice in a supposed act of vengeance. The message further claimed that the cursed rice had made its way into local markets, reportedly resulting in the deaths of unsuspecting consumers, including a soldier in Badagry, Lagos State. The alarm reportedly sent waves of anxiety across Idi-Iroko and other communities within the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
However, the Nigeria Customs Service has officially debunked the claims, describing them as fictitious and totally divorced from reality. The Public Relations Officer of the Seme Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, issued a firm statement on the matter, titled False Allegation of Multiple Deaths Linked to Alleged Poisoned Rice Released by Customs at Seme Border. He made it clear that the NCS has maintained strict adherence to operational protocols in the handling of seized goods and that no incident as claimed had occurred under their watch.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter,” Sulaiman stated. “We have always adhered strictly to the NCS Standard Operating Procedures in the handling and disposal of seized goods, guided by transparency, due process, and the law.”
He further condemned the circulation of such unfounded claims, noting that certain individuals, under the guise of journalism, have taken to spreading misinformation for malicious or sensational purposes. Sulaiman clarified that there has been no record of any fatalities within the Seme Command’s Area of Responsibility that can be linked to the alleged distribution of poisoned or cursed rice. He urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour and warned against the harmful consequences of false reportage.
Echoing the Customs’ position, the Youth Leader of Ipokia Local Government Area, Comrade Imoleayo Mawunti, also dispelled the viral claims as superstition without any factual backing. According to him, the entire episode stemmed from a voice note that was circulated online, alleging that the owner of two impounded trucks of rice had consulted a herbalist to curse the goods and harm anyone who consumes or handles them.
“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 explained. “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.”
He maintained that there has been no evidence of anyone in Idi-Iroko or surrounding communities dying from consuming rice suspected to be from the confiscated batch. Mawunti urged the public to exercise critical thinking and not fall prey to the frenzy created by unverified online posts. “Let us use our sense. There is nothing like cursed rice in Idi-Iroko and its environs,” he added.
Authorities have continued to appeal to members of the public to rely on verified information from credible sources and to avoid spreading unconfirmed reports that could spark undue panic or undermine the reputation of public institutions.
