An attack by some suspected smugglers on operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Area Command, has left an officer seriously macheted.
The attack was said to have taken place at Papalanto-Ilaro axis in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Residents and motorists were said to have ran for their dear lives while the melee lasted.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, said the Customs operatives saw the smugglers conveying bags of foreign rice along Papalanto-Ilaro route and they had made attempts to stop the vehicles but they (smugglers) resisted.
According to the statement by Maiwada, the patrol team had to call for a reinforcement from the Ilaro-end but the reinforced team was ambushed on the way.
The ambush however led to the abduction of one of the officers, Abdullahi Mohammad Kuso, attached to the command, who was subjected to life-threatening machete cut.
He, however, said Kuso, who’s an Inspector of Customs, was later rescued from the grip of the smugglers.
Maiwada said in a statement released on Saturday evening, “On the fateful morning of Saturday 7th July, 2018 around 0900hours, the officers and men of Ogun Command, Nigeria Customs Service yet received another form of hostility from criminals and economic saboteurs(smugglers).
“They succeeded in abducting and inflicting life -threatening injury onan Inspector of Customs, Abdullahi Mohammad Kuso attached to NCS, lOgun Command.
“He was later rescued by officers of the command.
“They further set ablaze Customs patrol base at Papalanto, close Lafarge Cement Company.”
He said full scale investigation was ongoing to fish out those who perpetuated “this barbaric, cruel and inhuman aggression.”
“We therefore sound a note of warning to smugglers that Nigeria Customs Service,Ogun Command will not relent in bringing to book economic saboteurs/criminals who often violently engage officers at various approved duty posts.”
TROPIC REPORTERS 