Smugglers attack, kill Customs officer in Ogun State …Police arrests 2 suspects …Customs intercepts 8 vehicles with foreign rice
Smugglers attack, kill Customs officer in Ogun State
.Police arrests 2 suspects
.Customs intercepts 8 vehicles with foreign rice
By Udeme Clement
The dare-devil smugglers operating in Ogun area of the country have violently attacked and killed a Customs Officer on routine anti-smuggling patrol carrying out his official assignment.
The smugglers also inflicted serious injuries on another officer during the same attack.
Financial Business learnt that the dangerous attack, which sent the Customs officer to early grave, took place at Asero community, off old Ibadan road, Abeokuta South local government area of Ogun State, yesterday, Sunday January 6, 2019.
Speaking, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, Ogun Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, condemned in strong terms incessant attacks on officers by smugglers carrying out nefarious activities in Ogun area.
He explained, “The officers were on routine patrol based on credible information, at about 0230hours and intercepted eight reconstructed vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice and kept in a hideout at Asero community.
“In attempt to lawfully secure the said items, the smugglers and their collaborators ambushed the officers in a deadly manner.”
He lamented, “Unfortunately, during the encounter, one of the officers, a Customs Assistant I Hamisu Sani sustained grievous injuries and paid the supreme price (death), in active Service. He has been buried according to Islamic rites”.
The PRO went on, “Also, an inspector of Customs, Tijani John Michael sustained serious machete cut but is responding to treatment in the hospital”.
He disclosed, “Two suspects have been arrested by the Police and eight vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice seized in connection with the incident, at Customs House Abeokuta for further investigation”.
His words, “While we commend the patriotic role of our Sister agencies and law abiding citizens, we wish to categorically state that we will deploy all necessary apparatus to ensure that the perpetrators of this devilish act are made to face the wrath of the law”.
He stressed, “The recurrence of such form of hostilities and intimidation by smugglers and their accomplices on our officers will never distract us from vigorously discharging our statutory functions”.