Nigeria Customs officers attacked during a drug operation in Ogun State, two officers injured. Investigation underway to apprehend suspects.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has confirmed that its officers were attacked during a routine operation in Ogun State. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon at about 4:00 pm in the Akokoro area of Iwoye, located within the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun. According to NCS spokesperson Zakaria Chado, the Customs team had intercepted a 12-tyre truck suspected of transporting illicit drugs and other contraband, based on credible intelligence.
Before reinforcements could reach the scene, the suspects mobilized a large group of armed men who launched a coordinated attack on the patrol team. The attackers placed heavy barricades at about nine strategic locations, obstructing access and hindering the arrival of backup forces. As they engaged the officers, the attackers opened fire, damaging a Customs vehicle by shooting at its tyres. This action created a volatile and dangerous environment, further escalating the situation.
Two Customs officers were shot during the exchange of fire and are currently in critical condition, receiving intensive medical treatment. Despite the law enforcement officers’ efforts to confront the attackers, the smugglers used the barricades as cover to escape with the intercepted truck.
Attack Details and Smugglers’ Escape
The armed assailants’ deliberate efforts to create roadblocks significantly delayed the response from the Customs’ reinforcement teams, ultimately allowing the suspects to flee with the truck. The vehicle was originally intercepted for carrying a large shipment of illicit substances and contraband.
The NCS has confirmed that investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice. Local authorities, alongside the NCS, are working to trace the smugglers and ensure that those responsible for both the assault on the officers and the illegal activities are apprehended.
Customs Controller’s Response
The Acting Area Controller for the Nigeria Customs Service, Olukayode Afeni, condemned the attack, calling it a barbaric act of violence against law enforcement officers. In his statement, Afeni emphasized that such violent resistance would not deter the NCS from its ongoing mandate of combating smuggling and safeguarding national security.
Afeni also urged local traditional rulers and community leaders to actively discourage residents from engaging in smuggling activities or supporting attacks against security personnel. The Customs Service has vowed to continue its work in protecting the borders and enforcing public safety laws, reaffirming its commitment to tackling smuggling, which poses significant risks to public health and security.
Efforts to Secure Border and Public Health
Despite the violent incident, the NCS has reassured the public, particularly law-abiding citizens in Ogun State, that their safety remains a priority. The ongoing investigation into the attack is part of the broader efforts to clamp down on smuggling and illicit trade networks that threaten the country’s economy and safety.
Afeni also warned that anyone found involved in smuggling or in support of such attacks would face the full force of the law. The NCS’s commitment to ensuring border security and public health remains steadfast, with the organization vowing to continue its fight against criminal activities and smugglers undermining national security.
The attack on the Nigeria Customs Service officers underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in the fight against smuggling and highlights the increasing violence directed at security forces in the region. However, the NCS remains resolute in its mission, committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and enforcing the law.
