Smugglers attack custom operatives with axes, machetes

-Rice smugglers attack custom men with axes and matches at the Idiroko border of Ogun State.

Some operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command have been allegedly attacked by rice smugglers who use motorcycles to smuggle bags of rice in the Idiroko area.

Naija News gathered that the the operatives were attacked with axes and matches.

The Controller of the command, Sani Madugu, who disclosed this on Thursday at Idiroko, said during the attack, which occurred at Olorunda village in the Yewa South Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, hundreds of the rice smugglers attacked his men who were on routine patrol.

He said, “My men did not fire any gunshot; they abandoned the operational vehicle and ran into the bush from where they called for reinforcement.

“The operatives were not intimidated; they refused to fire any gunshot to avoid killing innocent people. After the men left their vehicle, the over 100 smugglers, who used motorcycles for their illegal activities, descended on the operational vehicle with axes and machetes.

“They damaged the vehicle beyond repairs. However, three of the smugglers have been arrested and 17 motorcycles have been seized.”

Madugu asserted that his officials were attacked due to the operatives effectiveness, saying the command had intensified its effort to stop rice smuggling at the Idiroko border.

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“There are new routes being used by rice smugglers. They also use motorcycles to smuggle rice from the creeks to the points where they are loaded into vehicles. We have effectively blocked them and they are attacking us. They attacked our men who were on routine patrol at Olorunda village, very close to Ilase.”

According to the custom boss, the smugglers had “murdered sleep and they should be ready for war as things would be hotter for them from now on,” saying they should look for an alternative means of livelihood.

In another development, Madugu said the command burst a rice smuggling ring at Owode on Wednesday.

Acting on intelligence, the command stormed the smugglers at their loading point and seized eight vehicles loaded with bags of rice. He added that there were two tokunbo cars smuggled with the bags of rice.