Suspected smugglers have reportedly killed an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service at Owode, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Customs Assistant 1, a driver, was attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
He was reportedly killed during an operation on Saturday after two vehicles laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice were seized and taken to Lagos.
The Customs spokesman at FOU Zone A Lagos, Theophilus Duniya confirmed the development but was did not disclose the victim’s name.
Duniya said the operatives had made some seizures and in the course of the movement, one of the vehicles developed mechanical problems.
While fixing the vehicle, he said “the suspected smugglers mobilised themselves in a large number with arms, charms, stones and other dangerous objects attacked and murdered their victim”.
Duniya disclosed that the body of the deceased has been deposited in a mortuary.
He hinted that the Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu had directed immediate investigation into the murder of the officer.
According to him, the Acting Comptroller condemned the killing and reiterated his resolve to keep suppressing smuggling and arresting perpetrators of the criminal activity.
“He said the killing will not deter FOU Zone A, under his leadership, from carrying out its statutory functions in the interest of national security and economy.
“The Comptroller added that seizures of smuggled wares and arrest of suspects will continue unless the perpetrators embrace a change of heart and do legitimate trades,” Duniya quoted him as saying.
