Hoodlums suspected to be smugglers have reportedly inflicted injuries on officers and men of the Ogun command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) who were on routine anti-smuggling patrol at Owode, Yewa area of Ogun state.
The hoodlums were also said to be on rampage, scouting for customs officers to unleash mayhem on, as they engaged other security agents in exchange of gunfire.
The attack which took place on Monday, January 21, 2019 saw two officers critically injured while another three received various degrees of injury.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, said the attack was a gang up against the anti smuggling operatives having sensed that suspected smuggled rice stocked in worship centre and other nearby houses had been discovered.
Maiwada’s statement said further that the hoodlums wanted to invade the customs formation in the area but for the help of sister security agencies who helped to ward them off.
The release stated: “Earlier this month, precisely on Sunday 6th January, 2019 NCS Ogun Command lost an Officer in active service after sustaining machete blows from criminals who accepted smuggling as their only means of livelihood.
“The aftermath of theaforementioned incident paved way for concerted efforts by the Command to informand educate the public on the menace of smuggling and the implication of conspiring against the Service.
“Unfortunately, at about 1200 hours of Monday afternoon (21st January, 2019), somesmugglers and their accomplices ganged-up against an Anti-smuggling Team from discharging its legitimate functions at Owode (Yewa) community.
“The Officers who went on an Operation to save Nigerian economy from the mayhem ofsmugglers who stocked a place of worship and some houses nearby with ricesuspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.
“The team faced stiff resistance from some armed criminals inflicting serious injuries on two Officers and minor injuries on other members of the team, and further destroyed official patrol vehicles. The encounter led to exchange of fire between Officers and smugglers with their accomplices.
“For peace to reign, the team resorted to tactical withdrawal. However, the hoodlums took law into their hands bybarricading the main road leading to Idiroko, scouting for Customs Officers to attack.
“They are also battling with law enforcement agencies to gain access to Customs formations for further confrontation.
“Finally, we wish to commend the patriotic roles of our sister Agencies and law abiding citizens in assisting the Command to achieve its lawful duty of revenue collection and suppression of smuggling in the interest of our dear country.
“We wish to categorically state that we will continue to fight the anti-smuggling crusade against all odds.”
