Customs Area Comptroller of the Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Michael Agbara, has narrated how hoodlums hijacked the endears protest, and attacked Customs formations along the Idiroko, Obele and Imeko borders and forced open the borders for three days, bringing in contrabands in a massive quantity.
Agbara, while addressing newsmen on Saturday, said that it took the timely intervention of Soldiers to return normalcy to Idiroko border in Ogun state.
Part of his statement reads, “Following the recent nationwide #EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums and smugglers particularly at the border areas, our Area Command suffered several vicious attacks in which an officer, AIC Solomon Alayge was killed and others were injured.”
“In the early hours of Thursday, 22nd of October, 2020 many of our patrol teams were attacked, their patrol bases were vandalized 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.”
“As what seemed to be a premeditated action, the said hoodlums/smugglers in large numbers seized the opportunity of the security challenge which made all security agencies focused on protecting their operatives and facilities at that period, to embark on massive smuggling of rice and vehicles for about three days.”
He further explained that it was at this point the command called for support from the Nigeria Army. He said that the soldiers’ presence helped restore control.
“As a result of the control measures put in place, an attempt by the hoodlums to attack our government warehouses at Idiroko and Abeokuta and other critical government facilities was resisted.”
He also said that customs officer in collaboration with men of the Nigeria Army, seized lots of contrabands and other products after the hoodlums had attacked.
He said items seized include, “2,947 bags of rice; 1,875 litres of petrol; 18 units of Vehicles; 4 units of motorcycles; 10 sacks and 1,658 pieces of Cannabis sativa; 159 cartons of sugar; 30 cartons of tomato paste; 12 cartons of cosmetics and soaps; 19 cartons of insecticide; and 7 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each).”
In his final remarks, Agbara thanked community leaders, members of the press and other government agencies who showed their support in one way or the other.
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