The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, wants people in leadership positions to prevail on the youths to refrain from smuggling and other cross border crimes to further enhance the safety of lives and property at the border areas.
The advice is coming on the heels of incessant attacks and violent encounters between suspected smugglers and Customs operatives in Ogun State, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property in border communities.
The Customs Area Controller, Ogun One Command, Mr Peter Kolo who gave the advice said the Command would not relent in the efforts to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes were brought to justice.
In a statement at Idi – Iroko, the Customs Public Relations Officer for Ogun Area One Command, Mr Hammed Oloyede said all Customs check points as well as structures and properties of other security agencies operating in the area were recently razed.
He alleged that a syndicate of suspected armed smugglers and hoodlums had destroyed the items, including 2 buildings and many check points as well as 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles and original credentials and other documents belonging to Customs and Immigration officers.
Mr Oloyede maintained that the attack on Security agents deployed along the roads between Olajogun and Ohunbe areas of the borderline in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state was in retaliation of the successful interception of a consignment of petrol being smuggled out of the country in 25 – litre capacity kegs.
The Customs spokesman claimed that suspected smugglers had on Wednesday 10th of this month engaged a Joint Border Drill Operatives of the Command in a gun duel to prevent the seizure leading to the death of one person from Ohunbe community, Mr Tunde Alabe in the cross fire.
He alleged that the suspected smugglers later barricaded the Oja-Odan -Obelle road in retaliation before launching the attacks.
Olusegun Folarin
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