‘Hoodlums abduct Customs officer, kill 1 with seized rifle’

Some hoodlums suspected to be smugglers have reportedly abducted an officer of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), A.K Usman with his rifle at Oja Odan in Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State.

It was learnt that the incident happened during a clash between men of the NCS, Ogun Area Command I and smugglers which led to death of a middle-aged man, Atanda Idowu Moses, after sustaining a gunshot injury.

• Gunmen kidnap director, 5 others in Zamfara village
• Gunmen kill one, abduct 10, injure many in Nasarawa

Daily Trust gathered that Moses and one other were working in their workshop when they were hit by stray bullets reportedly fired by men of the NCS while they were chasing smugglers on Saturday.

Moses was until his death the chairman of the Nigerian Association of Panel Beaters, Oja Odan branch.

However, the Spokesman of Customs Area Command I, Hameed Oloyede told Daily Trust on Monday that Moses died from a gunshot allegedly fired by the smugglers during the clash with the Customs officers.

According to him, operatives of the command had intercepted smuggled 18 bags of rice at Oja Odan, but on their way back, the hoodlums laid an ambush and attacked the officers.

During the clash, Oloyede said the officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, was abducted, beaten to stupor, while the magazine of his rifle loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition was later found empty of the ammunition and was damaged.

The Command spokesman further said the operatives were “attacked by mob armed with dangerous weapons including dane guns, bottles, stones and charms.”

He said, “The reinforcement was timely as the Police contingent were able to rescue the abducted officer on a bush path.

“Upon his rescue by the Police, the abducted officer was found to have been been beaten to stupor, the magazine of his rifle loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition was found empty of the ammunition and was damaged.

“This is an indication that the hoodlums fired his rifle which could have led to the death of the victim, given that the hoodlums are untrained in the handling of such weapon.”

He said a suspect arrested in connection to the mayhem had been detained for further investigation.

While regretting the death of Moses, the Customs officer insisted that he was hit by a stray bullet suspected to have been fired by one of the hoodlums using the firearm of the abducted officer.

“This explains why the rifle was returned without a single ammunition. We also wish to register our heartfelt condolence and prayers to the family and friends of the bereaved for this irreparable loss,” he said.