Ogun Customs Under Fresh Attack By Smugglers

LUCKY LAWAL

The dreaded Anti-Smuggling operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun State Command once again battled smugglers over seized smuggled rice brought into the country.

It can be recalled that the same Anti-Smuggling operatives of the Ogun Command a few month ago encountered a similar attack from the unrelenting economic saboteurs whose main objective is to defraud and short change government in duty payment .

According to the Customs Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASC1, Abdullahi Maiwada, “The vehicles were from Idiroko moving towards Atan, carrying prohibited items suspected to have emanated from Adobo. They were intercepted by the Ogun Command Anti-Smuggling operatives at Adisba, a settlement area after Owode Town in Ogun State”.

Maiwada emphasized that in an effort by the Ogun Command Anti-Smuggling operatives to successfully secure the products, the hoodlums angrily swooped on them to prevent the seizures from being impounded. He added that with the efforts of other sister agencies, who quickly responded to their call, the hoodlums were overpowered.

He said that attacks on officers of the service performing their legitimate duty were becoming too consistent. He is therefore, calling on stakeholders with useful information to always notify the Authorities of suspected illegalities, saying that the new directive from the Comptroller General of the service, mandated that no smuggler should be spared, even if those behind the smugglers were government officials.

He maintained that the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Agbara Ojo Michael, is not taking smuggling activities lightly, warning that anyone found culpable will not only be arrested but made to face matching order and the full arms of the law because too many damages had been inflicted on his officers and men.

He said that with a careful study and analysis of the nature of the attack terrain in other to forestall more chaos to scuttle the protection of lives, the operatives tactically retreated to avoid any casualty that might hinder the success of the operation. He disclosed that the arrival of the reinforcement including the sister teams brought the situation under control. The statement further revealed that after the encounter, no casualty was recorded and that the Ogun Customs Anti-Smuggling operatives were able to secure the area to ensure law and order prevailed.

The Command Area Controller insisted that the war against smuggling activities will surely be won, even though the youths and the adults within the communities refused to refrain from involving in illegalities at the Nigerian border posts, undermining the dangers associated with losing their goods, their investments and getting arrested, warning that his officers and men will not give any breathing space in their bid to frustrate their efforts until they become tired of using his corridor, he assured.