A gun battle erupted over the weekend between smugglers and the anti-smuggling operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Idiroko Border, resulting in the death of one individual.
The incident took place on Saturday at Alapoti Villa, situated in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, when Customs officers were attacked during a routine patrol aimed at curbing illegal activities.
The officers had previously intercepted a motorcycle convoy loaded with 46 bags of foreign parboiled rice, which had been smuggled into the country along a bush path under the cover of darkness. Each bag of rice weighed 50kg and was immediately confiscated by the operatives.
The team, having seized the contraband, was in the process of transporting the goods back to their office when they were ambushed by the smuggling cartel. Armed with an array of weapons, including dane guns, stones, bottles, and charms, the smugglers launched a coordinated attack on the Customs officers in an attempt to reclaim the seized goods.
The Customs officers, undeterred by the surprise assault, fought back, leading to a tense 30-minute gun battle. Despite being outnumbered and under heavy fire, the operatives were able to repel the attack. Tragically, one of the assailants sustained serious injuries and later died as a result. Additionally, a suspect claiming ownership of the seized rice was apprehended and is now undergoing investigation by the NCS.
The Ogun 1 Area Command has observed a worrying trend in recent months, with smuggling syndicates intensifying their attacks on Customs personnel. According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Zakari Chado, the surge in hostilities is directly tied to the success of the Command’s anti-smuggling operations, which have resulted in significant seizures of illicit arms, ammunition, narcotics, and other prohibited items. This incident marks the second attack on Customs officers this year, following a similar assault in Akokoro, Imeko-Afon, where two officers sustained life-threatening injuries.
Reacting to the incident, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun 1, condemned the violent attack, describing it as a "barbaric assault on the rule of law." He assured the public that the NCS would not be deterred in its mission to safeguard Nigeria’s borders. Afeni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to continue enforcing the Customs Act of 2023, ensuring that those responsible for the attack are swiftly identified and brought to justice.
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