Smugglers attack : Customs operatives with FOU Zone ‘A’, soldier escape death by a whisker * Suffers serious gunshot wounds

Smugglers attack :
Customs operatives with FOU Zone ‘A’, soldier escape death by a whisker

* Suffers serious gunshot wounds

( Report by Udeme Clement ) :

The sad news reaching our platform now reveals that three Customs operatives and a soldier with the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ , of Nigeria Customs Service, just escaped death by a whisker following smugglers attack while on duty.

The deadly attack that took place today, some hours ago, left the officers with serious gunshot wounds.

Our Correspondent, gathered that the affected Military officer and Customs operatives are currently taking treatment in an undisclosed Customs medical facility in Lagos.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the Unit,
DSC Theophilus Duniya,
said, “At about 0600 hours of Tuesday, February 2. 2021, officers of the Unit, while carrying out their statutory duty of enforcing anti-smuggling laws; acted on intelligence and intercepted six vehicles laden with foreign parboiled rice, at Abeokuta Express Way.

“Upon the interception, some armed hoodlums working with smugglers swiftly mobilised themselves and attacked our officers in a bid to prevent the seized items from being taken away.”

He went on,. “However, in the cross fire that ensued, our operatives overpowered them and were able to evacuate three out of the intercepted vehicles to the warehouse.

“Three Customs officers and a Soldier sustained bullet wounds from the attack.

“The wounded officers are currently receiving treatment at our medical facility, while further investigation is on-going to bring the perpetrators of this barbaric act to book”.

His words:
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Usman Yahaya, is really concerned about injuries inflicted on the officers, which would have been totally avoided, if the youths were patriotic enough to know that the officers were just performing their lawful duties.

He also cautioned the youths to reject being used by economic saboteurs to confront operatives of the Service from carrying out their lawful duties.

The CAC while thanking law abiding citizens for supporting their operations, also warned people with criminal intentions to immediately desist from such illegality, because officers/men of the Unit are well mobilised, backed by the extant laws and shall remain resolute at enforcing the laws without fear of intimidation by illicit traders.