2 Dead, 10 Injured as Daredevil Smugglers Attack Customs Officers in Ogun State
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Daredevil smugglers on Thursday, 6th of May, 2021, attacked officers of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Command and their Military personnel while they were on information patrol to Oja-Odan, Yewa North of Ogun State.
In a statement issued yesterday by the command spokesman, Deputy Supretendent of Police, Bukoye Oloyede, based on credible intelligence, the patrol team intercepted about Three Hundred and Twenty (320) of bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each out of the large number stockpiled in a building around the said area.
He said that “During evacuation of the said rice, some diehard smugglers aided by unscrupulous elements and hoodlums in their numbers and armed with sophisticated weapons shot and attacked the patrol team”
“They shot sporadically at Officers. Unfortunately, four (4) Customs Operatives, one (1) Soldier and Five (5) civilians assisting in evacuation sustained gunshot injuries. They were immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and are currently responding to treatment”
“The patrol team repressed the attack by gunning down two (2) of the hoodlums and left many others with gunshot injuries”
“The patrol team succeeded in evacuating the aforementioned items, arrested one (1) suspect, Mr Taiye Kujo and Six (6) Motorcycles used by the suspected smugglers, and conveyed all to the Customs House at Idiroko”
Hr assured that investigation is ongoing to fish out more perpetrators of this barbaric act.
Mranwhile, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Peter Kolo assured the general public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers will not deter his Officers and Men from discharging their statutory responsibilities.
He further appealed to the Traditional Rulers and community leaders to warn their subjects to desist from smuggling activities and attack on security operative as anyone caught shall be made to face the wrath of the law.
