The Ogun State Command of Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) on Monday shot dead a suspected smuggler who they alleged engaged their men in a physical and gun battle.
Customs’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada made this known in a statement, adding that some alleged smugglers were intercepted with a vehicle loaded with prohibited items suspected to be smuggled into Nigeria in Owode-Yewa border area of the State.
He said one of the suspected smugglers was shot dead when attempting to disarm a Custom officer in Owode-Yewa area of the State, adding that “at the initial stage, the suspected smuggler conveying the aforementioned items took to his heels and later mobilised his compatriots for a mob action against lawful officers’.
“In the process, the suspected smuggler and owner of the smuggled items engaged an armed officer in physical battle in a bid to disarm him. In the ensuing struggle, the officer appropriately exercised his superior power in self defence leading to the death of the yet to be identified smuggler” Maiwada said
Maiwada said the deceased has been deposited in a undisclosed mortuary as at time of filing this report, adding’ “as at the time of filling this report, the deceased have been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary, while the exhibit is secured in Government Warehouse pending further investigation.”
He stressed that “It is however important to finally reiterate that Nigeria Customs as a leading agency in collaboration with other agencies are only implementing Federal Government Policies”, and enjoined the public to be law abiding and avoid any issue that can lead to avoidable incidents.