At least two persons have been confirmed dead while ten others sustained gunshot injuries as hoodlums suspected to be smugglers allegedly attacked officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 command at Oja-Odan in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State on Thursday.
Confirming the attack, the Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Ogun 1 command, DSC Hammed Bukoye Oloyode disclosed that at 2.00am on Thursday, 6th of May, 2021, officers and men of the Service, Ogun 1 command as well as military personnel were on information patrol to Oja-Odan, Yewa North of Ogun State.
Oloyode noted that following credible intelligence, the patrol team intercepted about three hundred and twenty (320) bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each out of the large number stockpiled in a building around the said area.
He stated that during evacuation of the said rice, “some diehard smugglers aided by unscrupulous elements and hoodlums in their numbers and armed with sophisticated weapons shot and attacked the patrol team.”
According to him, “They shot sporadically at officers. Unfortunately, four (4) customs operatives, one (1) Soldier and five (5) civilians assisting in evacuation sustained gunshot injuries. They were immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and are currently responding to treatment.”
He further explained that “The patrol team repressed the attack by gunning down two (2) of the hoodlums and left many others with gunshot injuries.”
The command’s spokesman revealed that the patrol team succeeded in evacuating the aforementioned items; arrested one (1) suspect, Mr. Taiye Kujo and six (6) motorcycles used by the suspected smugglers and conveyed all to the Customs House at Idiroko.
While pointing out that investigation was ongoing to fish out more perpetrators of the “barbaric act”, he however quoted that Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Peter Kolo of assuring the general public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers would not deter the officers and men of the command from discharging their statutory responsibilities.
He further appealed to the traditional rulers and community leaders to warn their subjects to desist from smuggling activities and attack on security operative as anyone caught shall be made to face the wrath of the law.
Photo: A soldier who sustained gunshot injury in the course of the attack by the alleged smugglers.
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