Operatives of the Federal Operating Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service in Lagos have been attacked by suspected smugglers during an operation along the Sagamu inter-change in Ogun State.
The patrol team had intercepted 12 vehicles laden with bags of foreign parboiled rice en route to Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesman of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone, ‘A’ Theophilus Duniya, the smugglers mobilised themselves with the support of their sympathisers and attacked the team with dangerous weapons, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
In the process, two of the attackers were reported killed and one suspect was arrested while two customs operatives sustained injuries.
Operatives were able to leave the scene with four of the 12 vehicles laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice earlier intercepted.
Meanwhile, the acting Controller of the Unit, Hussein Ejibunu, has ordered a full investigation into the incident, saying that such attacks will never deter customs operatives from carrying out their legitimate duties.
