Custom Officers Injured After Attack by Gunmen in Ogun
The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Idiroko has confirmed that its Officers were attacked in the Akokoro area of Iwoye, located in the Imeko-Afon Local Government of Ogun State.
Mr. Zakaria Chado, the Command’s spokesperson, stated that the attack was executed by suspected armed smugglers in a statement issued on Sunday in Idiroko.
Chado mentioned that the incident occurred when officers, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a 12-tyre truck suspected of carrying a large shipment of illegal drugs and other prohibited goods.
He reported that two officers were critically injured during the attack, which took place on Thursday at around 4:00 p.m.
He further explained that before reinforcements could arrive, the suspects organized a large group of armed thugs and launched a coordinated assault on the patrol team.
“In a calculated move to obstruct law enforcement, the attackers erected heavy barricades at about nine strategic locations to block access routes, hindering timely reinforcements.
“They opened fire on the officers and shot out the tires of a Customs patrol vehicle, creating a dangerous operational environment.
“During the confrontation, two officers from the Nigeria Customs Service were injured by gunfire and are currently in critical condition, receiving intensive medical treatment.
“Taking advantage of the barricades, the smugglers escaped with the intercepted truck.
“An investigation is underway to identify, track, and apprehend all those involved in the attack,” Chado said.
Mr. Olukayode Afeni, the Acting Customs Area Controller and Deputy Comptroller, denounced the act as barbaric and reiterated that such violent resistance would not deter the Command or the Service from fulfilling its mission of combating smuggling and ensuring national security.
Afeni called on traditional rulers and community leaders in the Command’s jurisdiction to warn their communities against smuggling and attacks on security personnel, cautioning that offenders would face the full force of the law.
The Area Comptroller assured law-abiding citizens of their safety and reaffirmed the NCS’s unwavering commitment to border security, public health, and the enforcement of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
