Customs Officer Killed By Suspected Smugglers In Ogun

An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service has been killed in Ogun State by suspected smugglers.

Reports reaching Ezenwoko’s Blog at this time confirmed that the incident happened on Tuesday when the NCS officials from the Federal Operating Unit in the state arrived in Fagbohun, a community in Idogo/Ipaja, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspected smugglers upon sighting the vehicle conveying the officers reportedly unleashed terror on them.

It was reported that two officers went missing after the scene. However, the lifeless body of one of the missing officers was reportedly found in a river near Ajegun Iyaloosa village.

The service rifle of the killed officer was taken away by the suspects while the other officer is still being searched for as at when this report was given.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the FOU in Zone A, Theophilus Duniya, said some suspects have been arrested.

He said: “The attacked officers are from FOU. One is confirmed dead, while the other one is still missing.

“It happened yesterday (Tuesday) in the afternoon. They were on information patrol when they were attacked. It was an unprovoked attack that ended the life of one and the other one is still missing.

“The one that was found dead, his rifle was missing; but we can’t say for the other one that is still missing until we get to the end of it. At the moment we have some suspects in custody in relation to that murder.”

The NCS mouthpiece appealed to Nigerians to desist from attacking customs officers, who according to him were doing their lawful jobs.

He added: “The message to the masses has always been that these officers are on lawful duty. They didn’t assign themselves. They are officers of the Federal Republic, and what the Federal Government said through our laws is what they are out to enforce. They are not there to fight anybody, they are not there on their own will. They are taken there to enforce the government fiscal policies.

“Anywhere customs officers are seen, if they cannot assist them to carry out their operations, they should not attack them. Because these people have families. They come from villages and communities as well and they are human beings. They also deserve a right to live.”

Duniya, however, noted that the identities of the two officers cannot be released to the public domain yet, noting that their families must be contacted officially.

“I cannot release their identities to you because at the moment, I’m not sure if their families have been contacted. So we need to reach out to their families officially before we go to the press,” he maintained.

Ezenwoko’s Blog understands that the incident is coming a few days after seven people were killed in a gunfight between operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) and smugglers in Ogun State.

The incident occurred in Kobape village, along Abeokuta – Sagamu expressway in Obafemi – Owode local government area.