‘Hoodlums hijacked Ogun borders during #EndSARS protests’

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Command, has revealed how hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protests and attacked Customs formations along the Idiroko, Obele and Imeko borders and engaged in massive smuggling.

The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Michael Agbara, who disclosed this during a press conference, narrated the vicious attacks they suffered which resulted in the death of an officer (AIC Solomon Alayge), looting and injury of other officers.

Agbara said: “In the early hours of Thursday, October 22, many of our patrol teams were attacked; their patrol bases were vandalised and set ablaze. Our Officers and men were trapped as a result of the multiple attacks suffered along Oja-Odan, Ilaro (along Ilaro/Oja- Odan/Obele border), Ihunbo, Adisba, Owode (along Idiroko axis), Ijoun and Imeko.

“Many of our personnel’s belongings including uniforms and other valuables were looted while our patrol vehicles were vandalized.

“The hoodlums/smugglers in large numbers seized the opportunity of the relapsed security challenge to embark on massive smuggling of rice and vehicles for about three days.”

He said the Command had intensified effort by strengthening the workforce with reinforcement from the military. Agbara mentioned that the command, during the third quarter of the year 2020, recorded 420 seizures, which had a total Duty Paid Value of N397, 076,991.

‘’We wish to reiterate that the continued attack on operatives of NCS and other sister agencies will not deter us from performing our legitimate duties,’’ he said.