Again Smugglers Attack Customs in Ogun

Again Smugglers Attack Customs in Ogun

Barely two weeks after smugglers killed an operative and seriously injured another attached to the Ogun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, the dare devil elements again Monday attacked an anti-smuggling team from the state command, which arrived a hideout at Owode (Yewa) Community, based on intelligence; where vehicles laden with suspected rice had taken temporary cover.

The smugglers however engaged the customs operatives in confrontation which reportedly led to exchange of fire, and to avoid mortality, the customs operatives attempted to beat a retreat but the smugglers and their accomplices blocked the main road leading from the place to Idiroko and engaged in the attacks of officers and formations leaving two seriously injured with many sustaining various degrees of injuries. They were believed to have also damaged some official patrol vehicles during the rampage.

Despite their devious plans the customs officers succeeded in arresting some of the smuggled goods, said to have been loaded in various vehicles and hidden in a church premises and nearby houses at the community, before the customs operatives swooped on them.

A statement released by the Command Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, hinted that the smugglers and their supporters were still on the rampage and in a confrontation with security agents as they seek to invade available customs formations within and around.

The statement reads, “At about 1200hours 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. 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 by barricading 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”.

While applauding the role and assistance of sister security agencies and law abiding citizens in assisting the Command to achieve its lawful duty of revenue collection and suppression of smuggling, it vowed “We wish to categorically state that we will continue to fight the anti-smuggling crusade against all odds”.

 SMUGGLERS ATTACK CUSTOMS, KILLS ONE

The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service weekend, lost one officer to smugglers attack at Asero Community, Ogun State. Identified as Customs Assistant 1 Hamisu Sani  met his untimely and gruesome death during a raid on smuggled rice hideout at Asero, along with other officers; while and Inspector of Customs Tijani John Michael escaped death but not without serious injuries.

A statement made available to Vanguard Maritime Report and signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the late Sani has been buried according to Islamic rites.

The Command has however said two suspects has been arrested in connection with the incident and have vowed to use all lawful means at its disposal to fish out the perpetrators. Despite the attack, operative of the command arrested a total of eight articulated vehicles loaded with the offensive rice, which according to the statement have been evacuated to the Customs office in Abeokuta.

The statement reads in part,  “Officers of the Nigeria Custom Service Ogun Command on routine patrol based on credible information at about 0230hrs intercepted eight reconstructed vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice and kept in a hideout at Asero Community. In an attempt to lawfully secure the said items, the smugglers and their accomplice ambushed the officers in a deadly manner.

“Unfortunately, during the encounter, one of the officers, a Customs Assistant 1 Hamisu Sani sustained grievous injuries and paid the supreme price. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites. Also an Inspector of Customs, Tijani John Michael sustained serious machete cut but he is responding to treatment in the hospital.

“We wish to categorically state that we will deploy all necessary apparatus to ensure that the perpetrators of this devilish act are brought to book. The resurgence of such form of hostilities and intimidation by smugglers and their accomplice on our officers and men will never distract us from vigorously discharging our statutory functions.”

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 the

aforementioned incident pave way for concerted efforts by the Command to inform

and educate the public on the menace of smuggling and the implication of

conspiring against the Service.

Unfortunately, at about 1200hours 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 (pictures attached). 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 by

barricading 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 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.