Again, Customs/Smugglers Clash In Ogun, Claims One Life

One person has been reportedly feared dead in an encounter between operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and smugglers in Ogun State.

According to a press statement made available, the Ogun I Command spokesperson of the Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed that the only casualty in the fracas was a smuggler.

The incident which took place in the early hours of Monday, October 21, 2019, at Adesba on Sango-Owode Road, was propelled by smugglers' stiff resistance to Customs seizure of an intercepted contraband, a situation that became so tensed that the invading smugglers swooped on the operatives with the aim of disarming one of them.

"In the ensuing struggle, the officer appropriately exercised his superior power in self- defence, leading to the death of the yet to be identified smuggler", Maiwada said, adding that "it is emphatically clear that the rules of engagement specifically permit proper officer to defend himself when his live is evidently in danger".

His words: "At the wee hours of Monday, 21st October, 2019, at about 0200hours, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Command, on routine patrol, intercepted a vehicle conveying prohibited items suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria. At the initial stage, the suspected smuggler conveying the aforementioned items took to his heels and later mobilised his compatriots for a mob action against lawful officers. In the process,  the suspected smuggler and owner of the smuggled items engaged an armed officer in physical battle in a bid to disarm him. In the ensuing struggle, the officer appropriately exercised his superior power in self-defence, leading to the death of the yet to be identified smuggler.

"As at the time of filing this report, the remains of the deceased have been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary, while the exhibit is secured in government warehouse, pending further investigation", Maiwada stated.

Maiwada, however, noted that the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with other security agencies, were legitimately implementing the federal government's policies on movement of goods, even as he advised the public to be law abiding and avoid any act of lawlessness and confrontation with security agencies.