Three Customs Officers and a soldier on duty were injured in an unprovoked attack by smugglers in Igbo Ora area of Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State in the evening hours of Friday, July 16, 2021 at about 8:00pm.
The injured customs officers who are operatives of the Zone A, Federal Operations Unit, sighted 8 trucks carrying smuggled foreign parboiled rice whose drivers and armed accompanying passengers launched attack on the officers.
A statement by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Mr. Theophilus Duniya revealed that one of the attackers was shot and disarmed while the others retreated with their smuggled wares.
While investigations are ongoing to arrest and prosecute the attackers, all the attacked customs officers and soldier, including one that was shot in the head, are receiving treatment.
Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, condemned the attack and reiterated the uncompromising resolve of the Service to suppress smuggling.
The Unit, according to the Acting Controller, would never relent or be intimidated by this unwarranted attacks by criminal elements unlawfully bearing arms and unleashing same on officers on legitimate duties.
Photo: One of the customs officers shot in the head by the smugglers during the attack.
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