2 killed as customs officials reportedly raid rice smugglers in Ogun state

macfranc007 November 08, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Customs officials accompanied by soldiers reportedly raid community in Ogun state

- The operation was carried out following information that there was smuggled rice in some shops in the area

The Nigerian Customs Service says it has seized over 3000 vehicles across the country between January and October is in line with the extant law

An alleged raid by some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reportedly led to the death of two residents of Oja Odan community in the Yewa north local government area of Ogun state.

According to residents, the officials who were said to have been accompanied by soldiers had broken into some shops in the area searching for smuggled rice.

The Punch newspaper citing a source, reported that the customs men shot continuously into the air during the raid to scare away hoodlums, who mobilised to confront them.

He said: “The customs operatives got information that there was smuggled rice in some shops in the area. They went with soldiers to break into the shops.

"They started shooting continuously to scare away some people who mobilised against them and in the process two people were hit.”

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Reacting to the incident, a police source in the community, who confirmed the shootings, said the police did not take part in the raid.

On his part, the spokesperson for the Ogun state command of the Nigeria customs, Abdulahi Maiwada, said he had yet to be fully briefed on the incident.

“The matter is still under investigation. I may not be able to comment until I get the details of the incident,” he stated.

In other news, the Nigerian Customs Service said it has seized over 3000 vehicles across the country between January and October is in line with the extant law.

Joseph Attah, the public relations officer of the service, said the recent raid of car shops was in line with section 147 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) which empowers it to search shops suspected to be having smuggled items.

Daily Trust reports that some auto dealers grumbled over alleged rip-off and harassment by officials of the customs who raided their shops in commando style in search of smuggled vehicles.

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