One dead as rice smugglers ambush Customs officers again in Ogun

The Ogun Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded another violent assault on its officers by suspected smugglers in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

This is coming barely a week after similar attack by suspected drug traffickers on officers at Akokoro area of Iwoye, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, where two officers sustained life-threatening injuries and are still receiving treatment.

A statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Zakari Chado said the latest incident occurred at about 0600 hours on Saturday, 31 January 2026, when officers of the Command, on a routine anti-smuggling patrol along a bush path at Alapoti in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, intercepted a convoy of motorcycles conveying smuggled foreign parboiled rice.

He said a total of 46 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice were seized and evacuated into an official patrol vehicle but as the officers were withdrawing from the scene, they were suddenly ambushed by a large mob armed with dangerous weapons, including dane guns, stones, bottles, and charms, in a coordinated attempt to overwhelm the patrol team and recover the seized items.

“The officers maintained composure and successfully repelled the attack after an intense exchange that lasted about 30- minutes. During the confrontation, one of the assailants got injured and succumbed to his injuries, while a suspect who claimed ownership of the seized rice was apprehended and currently undergoing investigation.

“The Command observes that the recent spate of attacks on its personnel is directly linked to the renewed and intensified anti-smuggling operations, which have led to significant seizures of arms, ammunition, narcotics, and other prohibited items within the area of responsibility. These violent reactions underscore the determination of criminal elements to resist lawful enforcement and undermine national security, ” the statement said.

Reacting to the incident, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, condemned the attack as barbaric and an assault on the rule of law.

He reaffirmed that such resistance will not deter the Command or the Service from carrying out its statutory mandate, warning that those involved will be identified and brought to justice.

He, however, assured law-abiding members of the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to their safety and the enforcement of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.