Suspected smugglers yesterday attacked officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and burnt down an anti-smuggling patrol van at Sango Ota, Ogun State.
The incident came barely a week after car dealers launched a similar attack on Customs officers in Kaduna, also setting their patrol van ablaze,
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY gathered that the incident occurred during a routine patrol by the Customs Comptroller-General Compliance Team at the tollgate end of Lagos-Abeokuta expressway in Sango Ota area.
One of the affected officers, who said he escaped death by the whiskers, disclosed that five of his colleagues were missing.
Spokesman of Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone A Lagos, Jerry Attah, who confirmed the incident, said the officers were attacked after a different anti-smuggling team intercepted some contraband items in the area.
He said, “Our officers made a seizure, and when they were bringing it, there was a mob attack on the way but they were able to bring the seizure to the office with all the officers intact.
“However, we got information that there was a reprisal attack on another team who never knew something happened in tollgate.
“The CG Compliance Team (members) were only victims of circumstance. Their vehicle was burnt down. We don’t know the number of officers on ground during the attack but effort are ongoing to know the whereabout of the officers.
“They are not missing, perhaps they ran for safety to the police station,” he said.
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