Customs, smugglers clash in Ogun, Deaths recorded

By TUNDE Scott |

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and smugglers engaged in a shootout at Ilara, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area this weekend with about four persons feared dead.

the incident happened at the border town with the Republic of Benin at about 8.30am Saturday

Eye witness account stated that trouble began when suspected smugglers while moving bags of rice in a convoy to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were accosted by a joint anti-smuggling patrol team made up of the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and soldiers.

It was said that as the soldiers and the Customs officers attempted to impound the contraband goods, the smugglers put up a stiff resistance, which resulted in an exchange of fire, leaving about four people dead and six others with gunshot wounds.

The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the incident, but, he could not give the exact number of casualties.

Customs PRO. admitted there was an interdiction between the Customs and smugglers at the Ilara border town on Saturday.

He said, “I learnt there was an interdiction between our men (Customs) and smugglers in Ilara border town when the smugglers wanted to move bags of rice in their vehicles out of the town to their receivers.