Customs Operatives Kill Hoodlums Hired By Smugglers To Rescue Abducted Colleague – Comptroller

The Nigerian Customs Service has said its men opened fire on some hoodlums who injured and abducted one of its injured officers during an operation on Thursday in Iseyin, Oyo State.

The agency explained that some smugglers had hired hoodlums who attacked NCS men during an operation in the town on Thursday.

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Five persons were reportedly shot dead by Customs men while pursuing a vehicle loaded with suspected smuggled rice on Sallah Day.

But in a statement issued on Friday and signed by Theophilus P. Duniya on behalf of Ag. Controller, F O U Zone ‘A’, the NCS claimed one of its injured officers was abducted by the hoodlums with his rifle and his colleagues in the process of rescueing him fired at the hoodlums.

The statement read, “At about 1500 hours of Thursday, 13th May, 2021 some dare devil smugglers mobilized themselves with the help of some thugs; attacked a patrol team serving with Federal Operations Unit Zone A, who were on lawful duty at Iseyin.

“The officers who were on routine patrol intercepted two Nissan Pathfinder SUV vehicles fully loaded with smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Iseyin.

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“Sequel to the interception, the officers were attacked by a mob who were mobilised by the smugglers.
The mob attacked the officers with dangerous weapons which led to the infliction of serious injuries on two officers.

” In an attempt to abduct one of the officers that was brutally attacked; who sustained deep cuts on his head and other parts of his body. The assailants had taken the injured officer with his rifle before his team members whom acted in self defence, shot at his suspected abductors leading to the death of three of them before he was rescued and taken for immediate medical attention.”

Duniya explained further that Customs officers were able to successfully evacuate the intercepted “smuggled rice, while the injured officers are currently receiving treatment.”

The statement quoted the Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, as describing the incident as sad and avoidable.

“He urges community leaders and parents to call their wards and youths to order.

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” He laments the criminality of obstructing and attacking officers on lawful duty, describing it as a venture that yields no good for all including the Service,”it added.

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