By: News Peddlers
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| Idowu Wakilu and Smuggled rice |
The customs officers attached to the Federal Operations Unit (Zone A) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed the killing of a suspected smuggler, Idowu Wakilu, on Sunday during confrontation with rice smugglers in Erekiti area of Badagry, Lagos.
An eyewitness told journalist in Badagry that the incident occurred around 4.00.a.m on Sunday when the smugglers were smuggling rice from Republic of Benin to Nigeria.
The source said that the men of the FOU had earlier hidden in a place at Erekiti, waiting for the smugglers to start their nefarious activities before descending on them.
"When the smugglers discovered that they had been caught by the officers and men of FOU, which included soldiers, they ran to call their leader, Saka Wakilu.
"The negotiations went sour, which led to a bloody confrontation between the leader of the smugglers and the customsmen.
"At the end, Saka Wakilu was shot on the back in an attempt to escape, by one of the officers, and he fell down.
"The smugglers appealed to them to allow them to take him to the hospital, but they refused to release him.
"Around 6.00.a.m, Wakilu gave up the ghost, and his corpse was taken to General Hospital in Badagry.
The source said the operation was led by one UC Muhammad Gawi from Agbara Command.
Responding, Mr. Theophilus Duniya, the Public Relations Officer, FOU Zone A said a group of men, led by an individual armed with charms and matchet, attacked the team while evacuating smuggling rice.
'He injured a customs officer in the face and a soldier on the leg.
"Our personnel, acting in self-defence, maimed the leader of the gang to prevent him from inflicting more injuries on them.
"The gang leader was evacuated for immediate medical attention, but unfortunately, he later died on the way to the hospital," he said.
Daniya urged parents and community leaders to discourage their wards from engaging in criminal activities that could put their well-being and other citizens at risk.