A Federal Operations Unit (FOU) customs officer, Zone A in Lagos, Yakubu Shuaibu, was shot dead in Ogun State on Sunday by suspected smugglers.
Jerry Attah, the FOU spokesperson who confirmed the event on Monday, said the victim was killed in the village of Akinrun, Oja – Odan axis in Yewa North Local Government Area.
The smugglers, who attack the patrol operatives, also wounded one of them, recognized as Joseph.
The patrol team returned to their base when the suspected smugglers launched the attack, having just impounded smuggled rice.
Mr Attah revealed that the murdered officer was buried in Abeokuta, capital of the state of Ogun, according to Islamic rites.
“They were on a patrol; they had made seizure of smuggled rice. While taking the rice to their base, they were ambushed. The officer was shot on Sunday, but he died today.
“He has been buried according to Islamic rites. No arrest has been made. The investigation is still on,” he explained.
A comparable event happened in January when suspected smugglers murdered a customs officer, Hamisu Sani, and wounded another, Tijani Michael, during an ambush at Asero society in Abeokuta.
Communities in Ogun State bordering Benin Republic are significant smuggling routes to Nigeria. Some of the goods smuggled through the border groups are vehicles, rice bags, and poultry products.
