By LAIDE RAHEEM, Abeokuta

Hoodlums suspected to be smugglers have attacked the Joint Border Drill Operatives stationed at Olajogun in Oja Odan town of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, razing two buildings and customs check points in the process.

Several operation vehicles and personal belongings of customs operatives and that of other security agencies, were also vandalised and burnt by the hoodlums during the attack.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs, Ogun 1 Command, Hammed Bukoye Oloyede, on Friday, the Joint Border Drill Operatives stationed at Olajogun in Oja-Odan had intercepted several kegs of 25 litres capacity of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) prepared to be smuggled outside Nigeria, on Wednesday.

He said an attempt to seize the petroleum products, in contravention with schedule six (6) of Common External Tariff, some suspected smugglers armed with assorted dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, guns and charms unleashed deadly attack against lawful officers leading to a crossfire.

Oloyede explained that in the ensuing exchange of fire between smugglers and the patrol team, one of the attackers identified as Tunde Alabe, a native of Ohunbe Community sustained a gun injury leading to his death.

“This unfortunate incident led to the blockage of Oja-Odan/Obelle Road by a syndicate of armed smugglers/hoodlums. They further advanced their hostilities by burning down all customs checkpoints and that of sister security agencies from Olajogun to Hanger and Ohunbe Areas of Ogun State.

“The properties and items destroyed by the smugglers/hoodlums include two customs Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles, a patrol vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Immigration, one Mercedes Benz SUV, Peugeot 206, four motorcycles belonging to the Nigeria Immigration, original credentials and other documents belonging to two customs personnel and two buildings and many other patrol points”. The Customs spokesperson stated in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller, Ogun 1 Command, Peter Chado Kolo, has vowed to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident and promised to bring the perpetrators to book.

Kolo, however, appealed to traditional rulers, opinion moulders and eminent personalities on the need to dissuade the youths in the border areas from seeing smuggling as means of livelihood, noting “the protection of the society against socio-economic ills usually compounded by smuggling is a collective cause we should all join force to fight against”. (Daily Sun)