Suspected thugs raze customs checkpoints, vehicles

After Lagos raid, Customs seals vehicle sellers' premises in Katsina, Sokoto 

Thugs suspected to be smugglers attacked the Joint Border Drill Operatives stationed at Olajogun in Oja Odan town of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, razing two buildings and customs checkpoints in the attack.

The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Command, Hammed Bukoye Oloyede disclosed this to newsmen in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

According to Oloyede, several operation vehicles and personal belongings of customs operatives and other security agencies were also vandalised and burnt by the hoodlums during the attack.

He said, the Joint Border Drill Operatives stationed at Olajogun in Oja-Odan intercepted several kegs of 25 litres capacity of petroleum motor spirit prepared to be smuggled outside Nigeria, on Wednesday.

He said in the ensuing exchange of fire between smugglers and the patrol team, one of the attackers identified as Tunde Alabe, a native of Ohunbe Community sustained a gun injury leading to his death.

“This unfortunate incident led to the blockage of Oja-Odan/Obelle road by a syndicate of armed smugglers/hoodlums. They further advanced their hostilities by burning down all customs checkpoints and that of sister security agencies from Olajogun to Hanger and Ohunbe Areas of Ogun State.

“The properties and items destroyed by the smugglers/hoodlums include two customs Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles, a patrol vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Immigration, one Mercedes Benz SUV, Peugeot 206, four motorcycles belonging to the Nigeria Immigration, original credentials and other documents belonging to two customs personnel and two buildings and many other patrol points,” he said.