Armed men believed to be rice smugglers at the weekend killed a Customs officer, Hamisu Sani, and wounded an Inspector of Customs, Tijani John Michel with machetes in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a clash with operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The incident occurred on Sunday, Jan 6.
The state Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abdullahi Maiwada, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday through a statement, said the slain officer had been buried according Islamic rites while the injured was responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital, adding that two suspects had been arrested by the police in connection with the incident.
He also disclosed that the eight vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice were also secured at the Customs House, Abeokuta for further investigation.
The statement read: “Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Command, on routine patrol based on credible information about 2.30a.m., intercepted eight reconstructed vehicles fully loaded with smuggled rice and kept in a hideout at Asero community.
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“In an attempt to lawfully secure the said items, the smugglers and their accomplices ambushed the officers. “Unfortunately during the encounter, one of the officers, a Customs Assistant I, Hamisu Sani, sustained grievous injuries and paid the supreme price in active service. Also, an Inspector of Customs, Tijani John Michel,sustained serious machete cut but is responding to treatment in the hospital.
“While we commend the patriotic role of our sister agencies and law-abiding citizens, we wish to categorically state that we will deploy all necessary apparatus to ensure that the perpetrators of this devilish act are brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
“Finally, the reoccurrence of such form of hostilities and intimidation by smugglers and their accomplices on our officers and men will never distract us from vigorously discharging our statutory functions.”