Horror : As smugglers attack Customs in Ogun State * Inflicts life threatening injuries on officer

Horror : As smugglers attack Customs in Ogun State

* Inflicts life threatening injuries on officer

*Customs arrest 5 suspects

By Udeme Clement :

It was a horrible sight at Ogun- 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, as the dare-devil smugglers violently attacked Customs operatives on duty.

The smugglers who mobilised in large number against Customs operatives viciously attacked them, inflicting life threatening injuries on one of the officers.

This ugly incident is happening just few days after smugglers attacked Customs officers of the same Command while carrying out their statutory duties.

More so, attack on Customs officers in Ogun State is becoming a frequent occurrence.

Speaking on the incident, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, explained, “At about 1930hours on Friday 8th May, 2020, Officers and Men of Nigeria Customs Service Ogun I Command went on information patrol to Ilashe village in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun state.

“During operation, they Intercepted 35 bags of smuggled parboiled rice, 50kg each, ferried by a convoy of motorcyclists (popularly known as okada).

“On their way out of the area, the die-hard smugglers mobilised themselves in an overwhelming number, launching a vicious attack with dangerous weapons against officers performing their lawful duties”.

He informed, “In effort to repel the attack, one officer of the Service, Assistant Superintendent Chidi Johnson was brutally matcheted, sustaining deep cuts all over his body.

“The seriously wounded officer was immediately rushed to hospital for medical attention. Luckily, he is responding to treatment”.

The PRO disclosed, “To this end, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently under-going interrogation”.

He pointed out, “It is instructive to note that Friday (08/05/2020) was a date set aside for total lockdown in Ogun state, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is unfortunate and strange, that the dare-devil smugglers, who have no regard for laws of the land or the disease ravaging the global community, resorted to crossing the border through illegal routes to perpetrate such nefarious activities, in total disregard of the health and economic well-being of Nigerians.”

He warned, “Principally, we are using this opportunity to enjoin faceless unpatriotic smuggling cartels to stop using uninformed youths as cannon fodders in their nefarious trade.

“We challenge them to bring their own biological children to attack personnel of the Service and have a taste of the consequences of such act.

“May God heal our land and restore the peace we are seeking”.