Ogun Customs operatives attacked by suspected smuggler

Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday, were attacked by hoodlums while trying to arrest a suspected rice smuggler.

nigeriamaritime360.com reliably gathered that the assailants were reportedly joined by commercial motorcyclists in the attack, which occurred around 2p.m at the Ago-Ika area of the town, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

According to an eye witness, the Customs operatives had chased the suspect to the area in two operational vehicles marked when the hoodlums surfaced to prevent his arrest.

The hoodlums, it was further gathered called for reinforcement from commercial motorcyclists towards ensuring that the smuggler’s vehicle was not towed away.

The witness stated that the hoodlums barricaded the road with several of their motorcycles, thereby preventing the Customs’ vehicles from gaining access to the rice-laden smugglers’ vehicle.

They also hauled pebbles at the Customs’ operatives who also called for reinforcement from their head office in Abeokuta.

The hoodlums, thereafter, threatened to burn down the Customs vehicles, a development which caused anxiety among residents and passersby and brought vehicular movements to a halt between the popular Lafenwa market and Ago-Ika.

Spokesperson of Customs’ in the State, Abdulahi Maiwada, confirmed the incident to nigeriamaritime360.com