Oluyinka Onigbinde
An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was killed on Friday in Igboho by suspected smugglers while on patrol on Sinau-Kenu Road in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara. Three others are also currently battling for survival at the hospital as a result of the attack.
Shipping Position Daily gathered that the officers were on a routine patrol on Friday last week, when the hoodlums laid ambush and shot sporadically at officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3.
Customs spokesman in Kwara, Mr Chado Zakari, stated in Ilorin on Monday that the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3 operatives, while on patrol based on information along Sinau-Kenu road in Baruten LGA of Kwara State intercepted forty (40) bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each and Thirty (30) jerry cans of premium motor spirit (PMS) 25 each litres, abandoned in the bush paths along Sinau-Kenu Road.
He explained that while the operatives immediately swung to action to evacuate the seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to Government Warehouse for safe keeping in line with rules of engagement while on transit were ambushed by a group of hoodlums who pelted the customs officers with stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items, while also engaging the officers in a gun duel.
He stated that “In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three officers sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital”.
He confirmed that, the deceased ASCI Saheed Aweda has been buried according to Islamic right in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State
“The suspected smugglers laid ambush and shot sporadically at the patrol van conveying the smuggled goods to government’s warehouse.
“In the exchange of fire that ensued, one officer succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three officers sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment.
“The deceased, an assistant superintendent, Mr Saheed Aweda has been buried according to Islamic rights in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara.
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“The Comptroller, Mr Olugboyega Peters, has visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with its members,’’ Zakari stated.
He added that Mr Peters had ordered full-scale investigation into the assault to fish out the culprits.
“The Coordinator Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Compt. Olugboyega Peters has ordered a full scale investigation to fish out those criminals who perpetuated this barbaric, cruel and inhuman aggression” he said
He added that the trend of unprovoked attacks by faceless cowards whose intention is to instill 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.
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