By Adeoluwa Bravo
Several patrol teams of Ogun Customs Service were attacked and vandalised at various locations in the state, leading to the death of an officer–AIC Solomon Alayge, and several other officers sustaining injuries at various degrees.
This followed the recent nationwide EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums and smugglers particularly at the border areas.
At the peak of the endsars protest on 22nd of October, a number of patrol vehicles were set ablaze while officers’ base at different locations in the border areas were also razed down by the hoodlums. At the point of setting the officers base on fire, several officers were trapped within, and sustain fatal injuries.
The attacks took place at various locations including: Ilaro/Oja- Odan/Obele border, Ihunbo, Adisba, Owode (along Idiroko axis), Ijoun and Imeko.
Properties belonging to customs personnel, including uniforms and other valuables were carted away during the attack.
On what appear to be a premeditated action, the said hoodlums/smugglers in large number embarked on massive smuggling of rice and vehicles for about three days, while the security agencies were focused on protecting their operatives and facilities at the time.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Customs Command says it has intensified efforts afterwards with military support to beef up security and restore control at the border areas.
This was made known by the Command Comptroller– Michael Agbara Ojobob at a press conference held at the command headquarter, Idiroko Ogun State.
Comptroller Agbara said their efforts had yielded results leading it seizures of about three thousand bags of rice, PMS, vehicles, motorcycles, cannabis and other contrabands being smuggled into the country.
Using the privilege to detail the activities of the command in the third quater of the year, he explained that his men had recorded thousands of seizures of various items with total Duty Paid Value of about N400 million.
The comptroller added that the Command will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on negative implication of smuggling.
While thanking the Community leaders and other Government Agencies who showed concern, he reiterated the continued attack on operatives of NCS and other sister Agencies will not deter them from doing their legitimate duties in the interest of national security and economic wellbeing of Nigeria.
