Smugglers Kill Customs Officer Over 40 Bags of Rice in Kwara
Smugglers have attacked customs officers and killed one of them over seized items at the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State,
The incident which occurred on Friday followed the seizure of 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg and 30 jerry Cans of premium motor spirit.
According to the Kwara Area Command of Customs Public Relations Officer, Chado Zakari, the items were abandoned in the bush path along Sinau-Kenu Road.
The operatives of the Nigeria Customs were conveying the items to the Government Warehouse when they were attacked by the smugglers in an ambush along Sinau-Kenu Road.
The smugglers described as hoodlums were said to have attacked the Customs operatives with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.
The statement issued by the Customs PRO reads, “The hoodlums laid ambush and shot sporadically at Officers. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while 3 officers sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital.
“The deceased ASCIS Saheed Aweda has been buried according to Islamic rights in his hometown, Popo-Igbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State.
“Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, Representatives of DSS, NPF, ONSA, NIA, Immigration and other security agencies have visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with them. Our prayers go out to the family of the deceased officer whose sacrifice is deeply appreciated and held in high esteem.
“To those wounded, the Sector promises to stand by them on their journey to recovery and full restoration of health. The sector wishes to commend the patriotic roles of our sister
Agencies and law-abiding citizens in assisting the sector to perform the lawful duty of implementing partial closure of our land borders in the interest of our dear country.
“The intervention of Reinforcements from JBPT Headquarters Team, JBPT Ilesha Baruba, Kwara Command, Customs Police, and 224 Recce Battalion of the Nigerian Army were immediately dispatched and have since restored normalcy while the contraband items were moved to JBPT Headquarters, Ilorin for safe keep.”
According to the statement, the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali has instructed that a full scale investigation be carried out on the incident.
The incident which occurred on Friday followed the seizure of 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg and 30 jerry Cans of premium motor spirit.
According to the Kwara Area Command of Customs Public Relations Officer, Chado Zakari, the items were abandoned in the bush path along Sinau-Kenu Road.
The operatives of the Nigeria Customs were conveying the items to the Government Warehouse when they were attacked by the smugglers in an ambush along Sinau-Kenu Road.
The smugglers described as hoodlums were said to have attacked the Customs operatives with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.
The statement issued by the Customs PRO reads, “The hoodlums laid ambush and shot sporadically at Officers. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while 3 officers sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital.
“The deceased ASCIS Saheed Aweda has been buried according to Islamic rights in his hometown, Popo-Igbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State.
“Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, Representatives of DSS, NPF, ONSA, NIA, Immigration and other security agencies have visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with them. Our prayers go out to the family of the deceased officer whose sacrifice is deeply appreciated and held in high esteem.
“To those wounded, the Sector promises to stand by them on their journey to recovery and full restoration of health. The sector wishes to commend the patriotic roles of our sister
Agencies and law-abiding citizens in assisting the sector to perform the lawful duty of implementing partial closure of our land borders in the interest of our dear country.
“The intervention of Reinforcements from JBPT Headquarters Team, JBPT Ilesha Baruba, Kwara Command, Customs Police, and 224 Recce Battalion of the Nigerian Army were immediately dispatched and have since restored normalcy while the contraband items were moved to JBPT Headquarters, Ilorin for safe keep.”
According to the statement, the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali has instructed that a full scale investigation be carried out on the incident.
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