By Uzor Odigbo
The patrol team of Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was reportedly attacked in the afternoon of Saturday, October 16, during an operation along Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State by smugglers.
The incident led to two smugglers losing their lives, two Customs officers seriously injured, and two official vehicles vandalised, while one of the attackers was also arrested.
Theophilus Duniya, the Unit spokesman who confirmed the incident in a statement, obtained by TheNiche said that the patrol team had intercepted twelve vehicles of different kinds, laden with bags of foreign parboiled rice and were on their way to the government warehouse before smugglers mobilised themselves with the support of their sympathisers and attacked the team with dangerous weapons.
Duniya said: “During the exchange of gun fire, two of the attackers lost their lives and one suspect was arrested.
“Out of 12 vehicles in the convoy of the smugglers, our operatives were able to leave with 4 of them laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice.
“The arrested suspect and the seizure have been brought to the Unit Headquarters, Ikeja”.
Duniya added that the two wounded operatives from the attack are presently receiving treatment in a medical facility.
The Ag. Controller of the Unit, Hussein K Ejibunu frowned at the avoidable loss of lives due to the unprovoked attack and ordered full scale Investigations into the matter to apprehend other fleeing suspects with their smuggled wares.
He cautioned the youths to eschew violent confrontations with government operatives and be law abiding at all times.
The acting Comptroller added that such violent attacks will never deter or threaten customs operatives from carrying out their legitimate duties