Suspected smugglers have reportedly killed a Customs Assistant I, Hamisu Sani and injured an Inspector, Tijani Michel in an ambush at Asero community, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
It was learnt that the operatives, attached to the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), Ogun Area Command, on Sunday, were on a routine anti-smuggling patrol in an attempt to secure eight reconstructed vehicles, loaded with smuggled rice and kept in Asero community.
Our correspondent further gathered that the suspected smugglers, in a move to resist the vehicles retrieval by operatives of the NCS, laid an ambush, leading to an encounter between the hoodlums and the customs officers.
Sani was reportedly killed following “grievous injuries” he sustained in the encounter.
However, it was learnt that an Inspector of Customs, who equally sustained injuries from machete cut, is recuperating.
The Spokesperson of the Command, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Abeokuta on Monday, confirmed the incident, saying the victim had been buried in line with Islamic rites.
He vowed that the command would ensure the perpetrators “of this devilish act are brought to face the full wrath of the law.”
He however, disclosed that two suspects had been arrested by the Police, while the eight vehicles loaded with smuggled rice had been secured in connection with the incident.
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