An officer of the Nigerian Customs Service NCS, attached to the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3, with headquarters in Ilorin, has been killed in ambush along Sinau-Kenu road, Baruten LGA of Kwara State, while three others have sustained injuries after men believed to be smugglers ambushed their team on the way to deliver abandoned smuggled items to government warehouse.
Deceased, ASCI Saheed Aweda, died from injuries from gun shot during the attack and has since been buried according Islamic rites on Monday at his home in Popogbana, Ilorin.
As learnt, the JBPT operatives had intercepted forty (40) bags of foreign parboiled rice 50kg each and Thirty (30) jerry cans of premium motor spirit (PMS) 25 each litres abandoned the bush paths, Sinau-Kenu Road.
The operatives immediately swung into action and evacuated the Seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to Government Warehouse for safe keeping in line with rules of engagement.
But while on transit, a group of hoodlums suspected to be smugglers laid ambush on the team, opening fire on them with guns, stones, bottles, cutlasses, sticks, charms and other dangerous items, according to details made available to the media by Chado Zakari, spokesman for the Customs, Kwara Command.
” In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while three officers sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital.
“The deceased has been buried according to Islamic right in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State,” he said.
It was gathered that the Comptroller, Olugboyega Peters, Representatives of DSS, NPF, ONSA, NIA, Immigration and other security agencies have visited the family of the deceased to commiserate with the family.