Smugglers ambush, kill Kwara customs officer, injure three

An official of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State, Saheed Aweda, has been killed and three others injured after they were ambushed by suspected smugglers.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chado Zakari, on behalf of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 3, said the officers were attacked along Sinau-Kenu Road in the Baruten Local Government Area of the state.

Aweda was said to have been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town in Popogbona in the Ilorin West LGA of the state.

The statement explained that the officers were on a routine patrol and had recovered some contraband goods when they were attacked.

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The statement read in part, “JBPT Sector 3 operatives on information patrol along Sinau-Kenu Road in Baruten LGA of Kwara State intercepted 40 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each, and 30 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 25 litres each, abandoned on the bush path, Sinau-Kenu Road.

“The operatives immediately swung into action and removed the seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to a government warehouse for safe-keeping in line with rules of engagement. While on transit, a group of hoodlums laid ambush and attacked our personnel with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items.

“The hoodlums shot sporadically at the officers. 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 a hospital.”