…as smugglers attack customs personnel
Officials of the Nigeria Custom Service, Ogun I Area Command in collaboration with some patrolling men of the Nigerian Army yesterday (Monday) identified a hideout used by smugglers to stock rice and other prohibited items.
According to the Public Relation Officer of the command, Abdullahi Maiwada, men of the command were acting on credible intelligence report.
“In an effort to evacuate the ‘uncustomed’ goods from the scene, some daredevil criminals shot sporadically at Officers. In the melee that ensude, one patriotic youth who was assisting the team in the evacuation of the seized items was hit by a stray bullet and immediately rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving medical attention. Furthermore, two official vehicles attached to the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service respectively were equally pelted with bullets,” Maiwada said in a statement.
However, the gallant officers succeeded in overpowering the smugglers and recovered 110 bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each. The officers also arrested a suspect from the scene.
Meanwhile, the CAC Special Taskforce led by ASC I M Lawal made another discovery of new antics being employed by smugglers to beat ‘the eagle eyes’ of Officers and Men of the Command. Large quantity of Smuggled rice which were carefully concealed in a Volvo truck with Chasis number: YB1E6A2A2JB420916 and registration number: FFF–897 ZC (Ogun State) was criminally disguised as Cassava Flour (White Elubo), Fufu and Maize. Further examination revealed four hundred and ten (410) bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each deceptively packaged in the said vehicle.
To this end, Comptroller Agbara Michael assured members of the public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers will not deter the Command from discharging its statutory responsibilities. He emphatically pledged to decisively stop all forms of aggressions applied by smugglers in the interest of social and economic prosperity of our dear country.
Finally, the CAC wishes to express the command’s profound appreciation firstly to the Comptroller General of Customs and his amiable management, other sister agencies, traditional leaders, eminent personalities and some host communities for their unconditional support towards effectively securing our nation against the nefarious activities of smugglers.
