The Nigerian Customs Service has reacted to the clash between youths and officers in Ogun State in the course of carrying out their duties leaving three officers injured and one youth killed by a stray bullet.
While expressing sadness over the loss, the Ag. Customs Comptroller FOU ‘A’ DC Usman Yahya ,explained what transpired.
” At about 0800 hours of Tuesday 22nd December, 2020. Officers of NCS Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, while carrying out their statutory duty based on credible intelligence intercepted six Ford buses laden with foreign parboiled rice at Kikelomo area of Ayetoro – Ogun State.
” Upon the interception, some hoodlums who were armed with assorted dangerous weapons swiftly mobilize themselves and unleashed attack on our officers with the aim to abrupt Officers from performing their statutory functions.
” In the melee that ensued, one person was hit by a bullet in the process of resistance, while three Customs officers sustained various degrees of injuries.The wounded officers are currently receiving treatment at our medical facility while further investigation ongoing.
READ ALSO : Custom,Youths Clash In Ogun Over Smuggled Rice
While expressing concern about the loss and the serious injuries inflicted on his officers, the Ag. Customs Comptroller FOU ‘A’ said the clash could have been avoided if only the youths were patriotic enough to know that the officers were just performing their lawful duties.
He however cautioned the youths to reject being used by economic saboteurs to confront operatives of the Service from carrying out their lawful duties.
Normalcy has since returned to the area through combined efforts of officers of the Service and the Nigerian Army,he said.
