Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Nigeria Customs Service, has reported that its personnel were last Friday attacked by hoodlums while performing official duties.
Hussaini Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer, of the Seme Command, in a statement said, “On Friday, 3rd July, 2020 at about 17:00 hours, a joint patrol team of Seme Area Command based on credible intelligence went on an operation along Seme Carpenter Village and identified a hideout used by some unpatriotic elements to stockpile petroleum motor spirit (PMS) for unward smuggling to neighbouring Benin Republic.”
According to Abdullahi, In an effort to evacuate the said item from the scene, some unscrupulous elements launched a vicious attack and aggressively advanced towards the scene of the seizure with assorted dangerous weapons with a desirous effort to set the place ablaze.
Considering the volatility of the seized items involved and the fact that all efforts short of using force to halt the mob from advancing towards the scene proved abortive, Officers were left with no option than to use their firearms in order to defend themselves and avoid the envisaged catastrophe, said the spokesman.
However, verifiable information later recieved indicated that two innocent young males were injured by stray bullets at back and ankle respectively (One Adomeh Henry (m) 10yrs and Hunsu Taiwo (m) 12yrs).
He said injured fellows were immediately rushed to Customs Clinic for proper medical intervention and fortunately the result came out with no major damages.
This he said gave room for prompt treatment of the patients at Customs facility and were consequently discharged strictly based on medical advice.
The Command, registered its unreserved displeasure with this unfortunate incident. “As a responsible and responsive Service, we are working round the clock to partner with the family by providing all the necessary support to cushion the effect of this tragedy.
“Finally, the renewed hostility by smugglers and their accomplices will never be a distraction in discharging our statutory responsibilities. On the other hand daredevil smugglers will continue to meet their waterloo with no breathing space in Seme Area Command.” the spokesman added.