A yet to be identified smuggler who engaged an armed officer in physical battle in a bid to disarm him has lost his life in.
According to a statement by the command’ Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, trouble started at about 2.00am on Monday morning when officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 command on routine patrol intercepted a vehicle conveying prohibited items suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.
The statement noted that at the initial stage, the suspected smuggler conveying the aforementioned items took to his heels and later mobilized his gang for a mob action against lawful officers.
“In the process, the suspected smuggler and owner of the smuggled items engaged an armed officer in physical battle in a bid to disarm him. In the ensuing struggle, the officer appropriately exercised his superior power in ‘self defence’ leading to the death of the yet to be identified smuggler.
“As at the time of filling this report, the deceased have been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary, while the exhibit is secured in Government Warehouse pending further investigation”, the statement said.
It however reiterated that Nigeria Customs as a leading agency in collaboration with other agencies were only implementing Federal Government Policies adding that “the general public are advised to be law abiding and avoid any confrontation that may lead to such avoidable incident.”
It further emphasized that the rules of engagement specifically permitted proper officer to defend himself when his live was evidently in danger.
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