The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command has condemned an attack on its personnel by hoodlums in Asara Village, Illela local government of Sokoto state.

In a statement yesterday by the command Public Relations Officer, Assistant superintendent of Customs (ASPC1) Tahir Balarabe Yusuf said the attack had no justification.

He explained that on Sunday, January 2, 2022, officers of the command’s mobile team based on credible intelligence that a vehicle was coming with some smuggled goods, mounted a stop and search operation at Asara village along Sokoto Illela Road.

The statement further added that about 0800hrs a vehicle, Toyota Avensis with tinted glass believed to be conveying smuggled items was flagged down for search but the driver upon sighting officers tried to escape and in the process almost knock down one of the officer who quickly jumped out of his way, but unfortunately, the vehicle ran into an oncoming commercial vehicle which led to a head collision that resulted to the death of one passenger while others sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

He said as a result of the accident some unscrupulous elements who disguised as sympathisers,

mobbed our officers at the point and in the process set one patrol vehicle and private vehicle belonging to one of the officers ablaze.

Balarabe stated that in order to contain the situation from further escalation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdulhameed Ma’aji sent a reinforcement team that succeeded in restoring law and order in the area.

He said the Area Controller,

while sympathising with the victims of the accident, appealed to the general public to always support Customs in its effort to block all illegal goods from coming into the country through our borders.

As we all know, the country is currently experiencing security challenges, there is a need to support Customs to get rid of smugglers,

he stated.

On his part the Commissioner of Security and Career Studies, Col. Garba Moyi Rtd, said the state government has waded into the matter, assuring that it has been resolved.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.