The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Wednesday, confirmed the killing of a smuggler in the Badagry area of the state.
The spokesperson for the unit, Theophilus Duniya, who confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, said the deceased and his gang members attacked both the officers of the NCS and the army while smuggling foreign parboiled rice and vehicles along the area.
According to the statement, the customs officers and the soldiers intercepted the smugglers operating around the waterside in Badagry, Lagos State, and during the interception, the suspect and his gang member opened fire in a bid to have their way.
During the shootout, some of the customs officials and a soldier were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury.
“The FOU Zone A of the NCS has confirmed an incident that occurred on Sunday morning, June 2, 2024, at approximately 03:00 hours.
“A joint patrol team comprising FOU A personnel and some soldiers intercepted a boat carrying smuggled rice and vehicles by the waterside in Badagry, Lagos State. While evacuating the goods, a group of men, led by an individual armed with charms and a matchet, attacked the team, injuring a Customs officer in the face and a soldier on the leg,” Duniya said.
Duniya added that the officers maimed the leader of the gang, adding that he was confirmed dead on the way to the hospital.
“The personnel acting in self-defence maimed the leader of the gang to prevent him from inflicting more injuries on the personnel and was evacuated for immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, he later died en route to the hospital,” he said.
The Comptroller of FOU A, Kola Oladeji, commended the army and customs personnel for their bravery and professional conduct in the face of a dangerous attack.
He reiterated the unit’s commitment to combating smuggling and urged parents and community leaders to discourage their children from engaging in criminal activities that could put their well-being and other citizens at risk.
