An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command, Solomon Alagye, was confirmed killed on Tuesday following an attack by hoodlums on a Customs patrol base at Oke Ore, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Public Relations Officer of the Command, Bukoye Oloyede, in a statement, said the hoodlums who were armed with various weapons unleashed terror on the officers.
“On Tuesday 20 October 2020 at about 0945 Hours, some hoodlums in their large numbers armed with guns, machetes, axes, charms and other dangerous weapons attacked a Customs patrol base at Oke Ore, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“The hoodlums shot at the Customs personnel leading to the death of an Assistant Inspector of Customs, Solomon Alagye, on the spot. Another officer sustained gunshot injuries and is responding to treatment at the 192 Brigade Military Hospital Owode,” the statement reads in part.
According to the statement, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Michael Agbara, in response to the distress information about the attack called for immediate reinforcement from Customs patrol teams and other security agencies including the Military and the Police.
It added that the intervention team could not reach the scene of the attack on time due to road blocks mounted by the EndSARs protesters.
The hoodlums also reportedly damaged two Customs patrol vehicles and set another one ablaze, while valuable items including customs uniforms from the patrol base were looted.
The statement noted that the officers of the Command had heeded the Area Controller’s directive to exercise caution and ensure they avoided situations of chaos resulting from the ongoing #EndSARS protest.
The Customs Area Controller commiserates with the family and colleagues of the deceased Officer who died in active service and prayed for recuperation of the injured officer.
He also promised to ensure that the attackers of the Customs personnel be fished out and brought to justice, while urging parents , guardians and community leaders to caution their wards against attacking Customs personnel.
