One Killed As Smugglers Ambush Customs Officers In Kwara

An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), ASCI Saheed Aweda, has been killed in an unexpected attack by some smugglers along the Sinau-Kenu road in Baruten LGA of Kwara State.

The group of hoodlums, who are presently at large, ambushed the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3 of the NCS.

According to the press release by Kwara Command of NCS and obtained by NIGERIACRIME, the killing of Customs officers has been a trend in recent times.

The state signed by the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Officer Kwara Command, Chado Zakari reads, “The group of hoodlums shot sporadically and pelted the Personnel with other dangerous items while in transit having evacuated some abandoned thirty jerry cans of PMS and forty bags of rice.

“However, one of the Officers paid the supreme price while three others, sustain various varying degrees of injury and are being treated in an undisclosed hospital.”

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He also disclosed that Aweda has been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State.

He added that the Coordinator, Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) North Central Zone, Sector 3 Ilorin, Mr Olugboyega Peters, representatives of DSS, NPF, ONSA, NIA, Immigration and other security agencies have visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with them and prayed for the deceased officer whose sacrifice is deeply appreciated and held in high esteem.

Meanwhile, Peters has ordered a full-scale investigation to fish out the criminals who perpetuated the inhuman aggression.

“This trend of unprovoked attacks by faceless cowards whose intention is to instil fear in the minds of law enforcement operatives shall not go unpunished. Neither will it dampen the resolve of officers and men from carrying out their statutory functions,” the statement reads.

While thanking the intervention and reinforcements from JBPT Headquarters Team, JBPT Ilesha Baruba, Kwara Command, Customs Police and 224 Recce Battalion of the Nigeria Army for swift action, he stated that the Sector will continue to prosecute the anti-smuggling crusade despite the unwarranted attacks.