Two die, customs officers injured in Ogun smugglers attack

TWO people were reportedly killed, while two customs officers were injured on Saturday during a gun duel between officers of Customs Federal Operations Unit ( FOU) Zone A and smugglers in Ogun State.

The Acting Controller of FOU Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu, who confirmed the incident, frowned on the attack of smugglers on the Customs’ patrol team during an operation along Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer, FOU Zone A, Theophilus Duniya, the patrol team had intercepted 12 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.

He said during the exchange of gunfire on Saturday afternoon, two of the attackers lost their lives and one suspect was arrested, while two Customs operatives were injured.

He said out of the 12 vehicles in the convoy of the smugglers, operatives were able to leave with four of them, laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice, adding that the arrested suspect and seizure have been brought to the Unit

Headquarters in Ikeja.

Ejibunu lamented 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, noting that such violent attacks will never deter or threaten customs operatives from carrying out their legitimate duties.

He added that the two wounded operatives from the attack are presently receiving treatment in a medical facility.