One
person was feared killed in a clash between operatives of the Nigeria Customs
Service and suspected rice smugglers in Monday in Owode, Ogun State.
person was feared killed in a clash between operatives of the Nigeria Customs
Service and suspected rice smugglers in Monday in Owode, Ogun State.
It
was gathered that the customs anti-smuggling operatives in a bid to raid a Church
where the smuggled rice were kept, were met with stiff resistance from irate
mobs, which resulted in a man being hit by a bullet.
was gathered that the customs anti-smuggling operatives in a bid to raid a Church
where the smuggled rice were kept, were met with stiff resistance from irate
mobs, which resulted in a man being hit by a bullet.
While
the suspected rice smugglers regrouped on Tuesday for reprisal attacks on the
customs operatives, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Ogun Area Command,
Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, who bemoaned a similar incident on January 6, 2019,
that claimed the life of an officer on duty, confirmed that two officers
seriously injured, while some others sustained degrees of injuries.
the suspected rice smugglers regrouped on Tuesday for reprisal attacks on the
customs operatives, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Ogun Area Command,
Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, who bemoaned a similar incident on January 6, 2019,
that claimed the life of an officer on duty, confirmed that two officers
seriously injured, while some others sustained degrees of injuries.
He
said: “Unfortunately, at about 12.pm of Monday afternoon (21st January, 2019),
some smugglers and their accomplices gang-up against an Anti-smuggling Team
from discharging its legitimate functions at Owode, Yewa community.”
said: “Unfortunately, at about 12.pm of Monday afternoon (21st January, 2019),
some smugglers and their accomplices gang-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 of
smugglers who stocked a place of worship and some houses nearby with rice
suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.
officers who went on an operation to save Nigerian economy from the mayhem of
smugglers who stocked a place of worship and some houses nearby with rice
suspected 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.
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 laws into their hands by barricading the main road leading
to Idiroko, looking for Customs Officers to attack. They are also battling with
law enforcement agencies to gain access to Customs formations for further
confrontation.
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 laws into their hands by barricading the main road leading
to Idiroko, looking for Customs Officers to attack. They are also battling with
law enforcement agencies to gain access to Customs formations for further
confrontation.
“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,” he said.
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,” he said.
