AJOKE PHILIP
Less than one week after an attack by suspected drug smugglers, the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, has come under another violent assault but, this time by rice smugglers.
In a statement made available to BUSINESSINSIDERNG, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chado Zakari, disclosed that officers were attacked during a routine anti-smuggling patrol along a bush path at Alapoti in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to the statement, the patrol team intercepted a convoy of motorcycles conveying smuggled foreign parboiled rice.
A total of 46 bags of 50kg rice were seized and evacuated into an official patrol vehicle.
However, while withdrawing from the area, the officers were reportedly ambushed by a large mob armed with dangerous weapons, including Dane guns, stones, bottles and charms, in an attempt to overpower the patrol team and recover the seized items.
Zakari noted that the incident occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, barely days after a similar attack at the Akokoro area of Iwoye in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, where two Customs officers sustained life-threatening injuries and are still receiving medical treatment.
Despite the coordinated attack, the officers were said to have remained composed and successfully repelled the assailants after an intense confrontation that lasted about 30 minutes.
During the clash, one of the attackers sustained injuries and later died, while a suspect who claimed ownership of the seized rice was arrested and is currently under investigation.
The Command observed that the recent spate of attacks on its personnel is directly linked to the renewed and intensified anti-smuggling operations across its area of responsibility, which have resulted in major seizures of arms, ammunition, narcotics and other prohibited items.
It noted that the violent resistance underscores the resolve of criminal elements to undermine lawful enforcement and national security.
Reacting to the incident, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric and a direct assault on the rule of law.
Afeni reaffirmed that such acts of resistance would not deter the Command from discharging its statutory responsibilities.
He warned that all those involved would be identified and brought to justice, while assuring law-abiding citizens of the Command’s unwavering commitment to their safety and the strict enforcement of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.