Hyacinth Chinweuba
An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been killed by smugglers in an attempt to stop the interception of eight vehicles carrying rice.
The officer, Customs Assistant 1, Hamisu Sani, was on border patrol with other officers and had concluded plans to intercept the vehicles with smuggled rice when he met his untimely death.
The smugglers had in a bid to stop the interception of the rice laid ambush for the officers at Asero area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Sani was killed.
Another officer whose identity was not immediately known was also injured during the attack by the smugglers on Sunday.
It was gathered that Sani had earlier sustained injuries during another attack from the smugglers before he was killed Sunday.
The other officer who sustained injuries is said to be taking treatment in a hospital.
The Ogun State Customs Command spokesman, Mr , Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement to newsmen Monday said the slain officer has been buried according to Islamic rites.
However, Maiwada said those behind the killing of Sani will not go free as they will be made to face the law.
He disclosed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.
He said the Command has also intercepted 8 vehicles carrying the smuggled rice.
The statement said: “Meanwhile, two suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with the incident and the eight vehicles fully loaded with the smuggled rice have been secured at the Customs House, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
“While we commend the patriotic role of our sister agencies and law abiding citizens, we wish to categorically state that we will deploy all necessary apparatuses to ensure that the perpetrators of this devilish act are brought to book to face the full weight of the law.
“Finally, the recurrence of such form of hostility and intimidation by smugglers and their accomplices on our officers and men will never distract us from vigorously discharging our statutory functions.”