Attack by armed bandits on a team of Customs officers from Niger/Kogi command on information patrol along Lokoja-Okene road has left two officers dead while another officer sustained gunshot injury.
The Customs Public Relations Officer, Niger/Kogi command, Mr. Lomba Benjamin who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday said that the incident occurred at about 10.00pm on Thursday 12 December, 2019.
Lomba revealed the names of the slain officer as; Assistant Superintendent of Customs I S. Ohiremen and Assistant Superintendent of Customs II SM Omale
While giving the name of the injured officer as Deputy Superintendent of Customs H.I Oladapo, he noted that he was quickly moved to Federal Medical Centre Lokoja for medical attention.
“As at the time of releasing this press statement, the officer has been discharged from the hospital and would be returning to work as soon as he is in full health”, he said.
While reiterating that officers of the Nigeria Customs Service were only implementers of federal government policies, he urged every Nigerian citizen aggrieved toward losing his or her goods to engage the services of the Court rather than resort to violence and killing of family men who he said were the bread winners of their families while serving their nation.
He said, “The Nigeria Custom Service, Niger/Kogi Command has continued to maintain close contact with the bereaved families. We are pained by the sad development and share in the grief of losing fellow officers, colleagues, brothers, husbands, fathers and the likes. We are and will continue to work with other sister agencies in identifying the armed bandits in connection to the attack on our officers and anyone found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
The command’s spokesman informed that ASC II Omale was buried on Friday 13th December, 2019 according to Islamic rights in Ayamba village of Kogi State adding that the Customs Area Controller; Abba-Kassim Yusuf paid a condolence visit to the wife, children and family on Saturday 14th December, 2019.
“During the visit, the CAC assured the family that the Management will deploy all necessary mechanisms to ensure the perpetrators of this evil act are brought to book. However, this sad event will not distract us from vigorously discharging our statutory functions”, he said.
He further observed that ASC I Ohiremen would be buried at his home town in Ondo State in January 2020.
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