The Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Ogun I Command, Michael Agbara on Thursday, narrated how smugglers hijacked an EndSARS protest at a border area of Ogun State and launched multiple attacks on Customs operatives.
Agbara said Customs bases were vandalised and set ablaze in Ija Odan, Ilaro, Ihunbo, Adisba, Owode, Ijoun and Imeko and that an officer, Solomon Alayge, was killed, two others were injured and uniforms and other valuables were looted.
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In what he described as premeditated attacks, Agbara said the smugglers used the period to embark on smuggling of rice and vehicles.
He, however, said the command synergised with the military and other security agencies to beef up security at the border areas.
Agbara further said the command upon restoring sanity recovered about 3,000 bags of rice, 1,875 litres of petrol, among other contrabands.
According to him, the attacks were launched by smugglers in connivance with hoodlums in order to frustrate operations of the Customs officers, thereby paving way for unchecked smuggling.
Agbara vowed that all the smugglers and hoodlums behind the attacks and killing would be arrested and punished.