Two Killed, Three Injured As Customs Border Operators Clash With Smugglers

No fewer than two persons were killed and four others injured during a border drill operation by Nigerian Customs Service officers in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The drill, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, turned violent when some of the smugglers resisted the officers’ carrying out the operation.

Major stores with traders that deal in smuggled items including foreign rice, sugar, milk, macaroni, spaghetti, and second-hand clothes were raided by the officers.

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The Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service and leader of the Sector 4 command of the National Border Drill Operation, Bashir Abubakar confirmed the incident while addressing journalists on Monday at the Katsina 17 Brigade Headquarters.

He added that the operation started on Monday night at about 1:00 am following intelligence gathered by the joined operation network.

Abubakar also condoled with the victims of the operation and paid a visit to some of them currently receiving treatment at Katsina General Hospital.

He decried series of noncompliance in Daura, Jibia and Babura axis in Katsina and Jigawa States border areas and added that the sector had in the last quarter of its operations seized total of 235 belts of second-hand clothing.

The border closure according to the Federal Government Government is one of the best ways to handle the issue of protecting the lives and property of citizenry and economic security.

The National Security Adviser, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno had earlier in September maintained that the border closure will remain until the objectives behind the closure are achieved.