One dead, three injured as Customs, suspected smugglers clash in Ogun

By Lekan Lisoye

One person was on Tuesday shot dead while three others sustain varying degree of injury during a clash with suspected smugglers and the federal operation unit of Nigeria customs service at Orile- Imo in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun state.

The incident later led to a peaceful demostration to the State Governor's office,  Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, where the protester expressed their anger on the alleged inhumane treatment of innocent people by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The protesters alleged that the Customs officers attacked and killed one of them identified as Lekan after they had collected a sum of one million Naira from them.

The protesters said, ''We do not go to Cotonou to buy our cars and rice,  we buy them here in Ogun State and they cannot continue to kill us.

They therefore called on the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to come to their aid, saying that they cannot steal or involve in money ritual.

Addressing the protesters, Secretary to  State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi said that the state government  was not happy about the incident, adding that it will take appropriate action so that such incident does not re-occur again in the state.

He condemned the killing of one of the smugglers, saying that the security of lives of the people  is so  paramount  to the government, urging them to desist from illegal businesses.

Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Federal Operation Unit, Zone 'A', DSC Theophilus Duniya, said,some hoodlums attacked officers of the NCS who were carrying out their constitutional duties.

Duniya said, "Some officers of Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, suffered an attack by hoodlums working with smugglers".

"At about 0600 hours of Tuesday 2nd February, 2021. Officers of the Unit, while carrying out their statutory duty of enforcing anti-smuggling laws; acted on intelligence and intercepted six vehicles laden with foreign parboiled rice at Abeokuta Express Way".

"Upon the interception, some armed hoodlums working in support of smugglers swiftly mobilized themselves and attacked our officers in their bid to prevent the seizure from being taken away".

However, in the cross fire that ensued, our operatives overpowered them and were able to evacuate three out of the intercepted vehicles to the warehouse". 

"Three Customs officers and a soldier sustained some bullet injuries from the attack. The wounded officers are currently receiving treatment at our medical facility, while further investigation into bringing the perpetrators of the attack to book has commenced".

" The Ag. Controller,  DC Usman Yahaya, cautioned the youths to reject being used by economic saboteurs to confront operatives of the Service from carrying out their lawful duties". 

He warned people with criminal intentions to immediately desist from such because officers/men of the Unit are well mobilized, backed up by the extant laws and shall remain resolute at enforcing the laws without fear of intimidation.