Suspected smugglers killed a Customs Officer at Owode, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday night.

The Customs Assistant 1, a driver, was attached to the Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

He was reportedly killed during an operation after two vehicles laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice were seized and taken to Lagos.

The Customs PRO at FOU Zone A Lagos, Theophilus Duniya, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Sunday but he did not disclose the identity of the deceased officer.

Duniya said the operatives had made some seizures and in the course of the movement, one of the vehicle developed mechanical problems and was being fixed.

In the process of fixing the vehicle, he said “the suspected smugglers mobilised themselves in a large number with arms, charms, stones and other dangerous objects to murder the deceased officer.”

Duniya disclosed that the body of the deceased had been deposited in a mortuary.

He hinted that the Acting Controller of Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu had directed immediate investigation into the murder of the officer.

According to him, the Acting Controller condemned the killing and reiterated his resolve to keep suppressing smuggling and arresting perpetrators of the criminal activity.

“He said the killing will not deter FOU Zone A, under his leadership, from carrying out it’s statutory functions in the interest of national security and economy.

“The Controller added that seizures of smuggled wares and arrest of suspects will continue unless the perpetrators embrace a change of heart and do legitimate trades,” Duniya quoted him, saying. (Daily Trust)