One Customs officer, ASCIS Saheed Aweda has been reportedly killed as suspected hoodlums attacked a patrol team of the NigeriaCustoms Service in Igboho along the Sinau-Kenu area of Kwara state.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Public Relations Officer (PRO ) of the Kwara area command of the customs, Chado Zakari said the incident occurred last Friday in Igboho while the team were on patrol along the Sinau-Kenu road in the Baruten local government area of Kwara state.
Said the operatives had intercepted 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each and 30 jerry cans of premium motor spirit abandoned in the bush paths, Sinau-Kenu Road, and were conveying them to Government warehouse when the hoodlums ambushed the team, “pelting them with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.
“The hoodlums laid ambush and shot sporadically at Officers. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three (3) officers sustained life
threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital.
“The deceased ASCIS Saheed Aweda has been buried according to islamic right in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State.
“Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, Representatives of DSS, NPF, ONSA, NIA, Immigration and other security agencies have visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with the family. Our prayers go out to the family of the deceased officer whose sacrifice is deeply appreciated and heldi n high esteem.
“To those wounded, the Sector promises to stand by them on their journey to recovery and full restoration of health. The sector wishes to commend the patriotic roles of our sister
Agencies and law-abiding citizens assisting the sector to perform lawful duty of implementing partial closure of our land borders in the interest of our dear country.
“The intervention of Reinforcements from JBPT Headquarters Team, JBPT Ilesha Baruba, KwaraCommand, Customs Police and 224 Recce Battalion of the Nigeria Army were immediately dispatched and have since restored normalcy while the contrab and items were moved to BPT Headquarters, Ilorin for safe keep”.
He said the comptroller has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter to fish out those who carried out the acts.
