One dies as Customs, smugglers clash in Ogun

A suspected smuggler has reportedly died when operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area Command I, clashed with smugglers, along Aselu and Igua communities in Yewa North LGA in Ogun State.

It was learnt that the operatives, who were on routine anti-smuggling patrol, accosted a convoy of motorcycles (okada) ferrying smuggled foreign parboiled rice along the bush paths in the communities.

The suspected smugglers, who have been caught in the act, reportedly resorted to attacks on the operatives who repelled the attacks, leading to the death of one of the smugglers.

The spokesman of the Command, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement made available to Daily Trust at the weekend, confirmed that one of the suspected smugglers died in the attack. He said his remains have been deposited at an unnamed mortuary in the state.

He further said “The arrival of reinforcement teams enabled the evacuation of forty-four bags of rice (50kg each), and two motorcycles abandoned by the smugglers to the Government Warehouse Abeokuta for safekeeping and further investigation.

“It is instructive to note that Saturday was a date set aside for total lockdown in Ogun State due to the surge in COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, the daredevil smugglers, who have no regard for law of the land or the disease ravaging the global community resorted to crossing the border through illegal routes to perpetuate their nefarious activities in total disregard of the health and economic wellbeing of the country”, he said.

The publicist warned members of the public against attack on Officers performing their lawful duty “as such will leave the Officers with no other alternative than to defend themselves.”