One critically injured as hoodlums attack joint Customs, Army anti-smuggling team

One person has been reported critically injured when hoodlums attacked a joint anti-smuggling team of the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Army in Ogun State in the early hours of Monday.
This was revealed in a statement by the spokesman of the Ogun I Command of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday.
Maiwada said at about 2:30am on Monday, Officers and Men of the NCS Ogun I Command supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army on patrol, based on credible intelligence identified a hideout used by unscrupulous elements to stockpile smuggled rice and other prohibited items.
He said in an effort to evacuate the “uncustomed” goods from the scene, some daredevil criminals shot sporadically at the Officers, adding that in the melee that ensued, “one patriotic youth who was assisting the team in the evacuation of the seized items was hit by a stray bullet and immediately rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving medical attention.
“Furthermore, two official vehicles attached to the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service respectively were equally pelted with bullets.
“However, the team gallantly responded to the aggression and succeeded in evacuating one hundred and ten (110) bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each. Also, one suspect was arrested in connection with the incident and is currently undergoing interrogation.
“Similarly, the CAC Special Taskforce led by ASC I M Lawal made another discovery of new antics being employed by smugglers to beat ‘the eagle eyes’ of Officers and Men of the Command. Large quantity of smuggled rice which were carefully concealed in a Volvo truck with Chasis number: YB1E6A2A2JB420916 and registration number: FFF–897 ZC (Ogun state) was criminally disguised as Cassava Flour (White Elubo), Fufu and Maize. Further examination revealed four hundred and ten (410) bags of smuggled parboiled rice of 50kg each deceptively packaged in the said vehicle.
“To this end, Comptroller Agbara Michael assured members of the public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers will not deter the Command from discharging its statutory responsibilities. He emphatically pledged to decisively stop all forms of aggressions applied by smugglers in the interest of social and economic prosperity of our dear country.”