One person was killed and one officer abducted in a bloody clash between men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and suspected smugglers in Ogun State.
Public Relations Officer of the Ogun 1 Area Command, Hammed Oloyede, said at about 09.30 am on Saturday, September 26, officers and men Zone ‘B’ team of NCS, Ogun I Command went on patrol along Oja-odan, Egua axis and intercepted about 18 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) from a convoy of motorcycles being operated by suspected smugglers who abandoned some while some of them zoomed off with some.
According to Oloyede, the said rice and the motorcycle were evacuated inside the official patrol van and the team left the scene of the arrest.
He explained: “On their way out, our officers were ambushed and attacked by a mob armed with dangerous weapons including Dane guns, bottles, stones and charms which were used to launch a vicious attack on our Officers and Men.
“One officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs II AK USMAN, was abducted along with his rifle by the hoodlums. The team immediately called for reinforcements of both Customs and other Security agencies for assistance in restoring law and order. The reinforcements were timely as the Police contingent were able to rescue the abducted officer in a bush path.”
Upon his rescue by the Police, he said the abducted officer was found to have been beaten to stupor, the magazine of his rifle loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition was found empty and was damaged. He said an indication that the hoodlums fired his rifle, which could have led to the death of the victim, given that the hoodlums were not trained in the handling of such weapons.
Consequently, he hinted that a suspect in connection to the mayhem that led to the ugly incident was arrested at the scene and has been detained for further investigation.
