Three arrested in connection with Kwara Customs attack

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Chado Zakari told our correspondent on Saturday that the situation has been brought under control following arrest of three suspects.

“The situation is under control
Three arrest has been made.
And effort is still on to get more,” he said.

Narrating the attempted attack, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Ahmed Hussaini Bello in a statement said that hoodlums swooped on the command in the evening of Friday, 23rd October, 2020 with the intention to loot and set the facility ablaze.

According to the Controller, the hoodlums who came in large number with charms and dangerous weapons were set for a mayhem

The statement reads, “The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ahmed Hussaini Bello, who was still in office as the time of the attack, called for immediate reinforcement from the Nigerian Army.

“On the other hand, all efforts by the CAC to address the hoodlums to douse the tensed atmosphere at the command’s gate proved abortive. Officers were left with no option than to response appropriately to spontaneous attack unleashed by the hoodlums.

“Unfortunately, forty (40) minutes exchange of gun fire led to the serious injuries of two of our officers who are now responding to treatment in our health facilities.  It is important to state that 24 motorcycles and one Keke Napep meant to move goods out of the command were seized during the encounter.

“To this end, the Customs Area Controller hereby seized this opportunity to call on parents, guardians, community leaders, Religious leaders and opinion-molders to caution their wards on the dangers of towing the path of extreme illegality and anarchy.

“The Command will do everything humanly possible within the ambit of the law to protect government properties and ensure that peace prevail against all odds. It is important to reiterate that officers of the Nigeria Customs Service are only implementers of Federal Government Policies in the overall interest of national growth and development.

“Finally, the hostility by hoodlums and their accomplices will never be a distraction in discharging our statutory responsibilities,”