Suspected smugglers kill Customs officer in Ogun

Suspected smugglers have killed a Customs Officer at Owode, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Customs Assistant 1, a driver, was attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Theophilus Duniya, who confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday said the officer was killed during an operation after two vehicles laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice were seized and taken to Lagos.

“In the course of the movement, one of the vehicles developed mechanical problems and was being fixed when the suspected smugglers mobilised themselves in a large number with arms, charms, stones and other dangerous objects to murder the deceased officer,” he said.

The body of the deceased, he said had been deposited in a mortuary.

Meanwhile, the Acting Controller of the Unit, Hussein Ejibunu has directed immediate investigation into the murder of the officer.

Comptroller Ejibunu, while condemning the killing, reiterated his resolve to keep suppressing smuggling and arresting perpetrators of the criminal activity.

He said the killing will not deter FOU Zone A, under his leadership, from carrying out its statutory functions in the interest of national security and economy.

The Controller added that seizures of smuggled wares and arrest of suspects will continue unless the perpetrators embrace a change of heart and do legitimate trades.