Smugglers Kill Customs Officer, Injure Another In Ogun
Few months after smugglers kidnapped and killed an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Sango,Ota axis of Ogun State, another officer of the Ogun State command of the service was on Sunday killed while another injured in a battle with smugglers.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdulahi Maiwada for the Customs Area Controller, Michael Agbara who revealed this to journalists said the officer was killed after an encounter with smugglers.
Maiwada who gave the name of the deceased officer as Hamisu Sani said another officer, Tijani John Michael was injured but responding to treatment.
He said, “Officers of Nigeria Customs Service Ogun Command on routine patrol based on credible information at about 0230hours 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 like manner.
“Unfortunately during the encounter, one of the Officers a Customs Assistant I Hamisu Sani sustained grievous injuries and paid the supreme price (died) in active Service.
He has since been buried according Islamic rites. Also, an Inspector of Customs Tijani John Michel sustained serious machete cut but is responding to treatment in the hospital.”
Meanwhile, the command PRO also disclosed that two suspects have however been arrested in connection to the death of the officer.
“Two suspects have been arrested by police and eight vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice have been secured in connection with the incident at Customs House Abeokuta for further investigation.”
“While we commend the patriotic role of our sister Agencies and law abiding citizens, 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 to face the full wrath of the law.”
“Finally, the reoccurrence 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. “
it would be recalled that a Customs Office, Customs officer, Rasheed Abdulsalam, attached to the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos was, kidnapped after a fierce clash with notorious smugglers.
