Rice Smugglers Machete Customs Officer In Ogun

Assistant Superintendent Chidi Johnson who was among the officers sustained severe injuries, resulting from the attack.

The victim was among the custom officers who were sent to evacuate about 35 50kg bags of rice that smugglers brought into the country.

While acting on an intelligent report that suspected smugglers were stockpiling smuggled rice in a house at Ilashe village in Ipokia Local Government Area, the Customs men embarked on the operation at about 7.30pm on Friday.

While confirming the attack, Abdullahi Maiwada, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun 1 Command of the NCS, said the smugglers mobilised themselves in large numbers and launched “a vicious attack, with assorted weapons, on the officers performing their lawful duties”, adding that the suspected smugglers macheted Johnson, giving him deep cuts in various parts of his body.

He said;

The seriously wounded officer was immediately rushed to the hospital and, luckily, he is responding to treatment.

Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently undergoing interrogation.

It is instructive to note that, that Friday was a date set aside for total lockdown in Ogun State due to the surge of the COVID-19 cases.

We find it unfortunate and strange that the daredevil smugglers, who have no regards for the laws of the land or the disease ravaging the global community, resorted to crossing the border through illegal routes to perpetrate such nefarious activities in total disregard for the health and economic well-being of Nigerians